-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- scaramouch non sequitur admiral's mast calumny kakistocracy
- ALL
Definition of breakthrough
1 warfare : an offensive military assault that penetrates and carries beyond a defensive line
2 : an act or instance of moving through or beyond an obstacle a breakthrough in the talks between the region's leaders a breakthrough agreement
3a : a sudden advance especially in knowledge or technique a medical breakthroughb : a person's first notable success a breakthrough novel the actress's breakthrough performance
From the M-W Editors
Examples of breakthrough in a Sentence
Researchers say they have made a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.
The police have announced a breakthrough in the murder case.
This job could be the breakthrough she's been waiting for.
Recent Examples of breakthrough from the Web
-
In 1996, McLachlan was 28, still climbing the charts with singles from her breakthrough album, Fumbling Toward Ecstasy, and struggling to write the follow-up, Surfacing, which would become her best-selling record.
-
But the sinker would be but one piece of a breakthrough.
-
But there were some breakthroughs this year, such as Jessica Tookey (Best Artist) and some selections that are getting more and more interesting.
-
Every day, Heather or Adam applied a small patch of marijuana medicine to Addyson’s ankle and gave her stronger concentrations of marijuana products for breakthrough seizures.
-
But in four contested special elections in Republican districts — including two, in Kansas and Montana, featuring Sanders-style insurgents — neither method provided the party with a breakthrough victory.
-
The result is an important breakthrough that establishes China as a pioneer in efforts to harness the enigmatic properties of matter and energy at the subatomic level, the...
-
No policy breakthrough or new aid program is expected, but the meeting is the first high-level summit between the Central American presidents and the Trump Administration and will set the tone of the relationship for years to come.
-
The idea was to create an energy version of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency — the military program that led to breakthroughs like global positioning systems and stealth aircraft.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breakthrough'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of breakthrough
1915
BREAKTHROUGH Defined for English Language Learners
breakthrough
playDefinition of breakthrough for English Language Learners
-
: a sudden increase in knowledge, understanding, etc. : an important discovery that happens after trying for a long time to understand or explain something
-
: a person's first important success
BREAKTHROUGH Defined for Kids
breakthrough
playDefinition of breakthrough for Students
: a sudden advance or successful development a breakthrough in medical research
Learn More about breakthrough
-
See words that rhyme with breakthrough Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for breakthrough Nglish: Translation of breakthrough for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of breakthrough for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about breakthrough
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up breakthrough? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!