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
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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
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Of her great breakthroughs, perhaps the most easily explained involves hyperbolic surfaces: roughly, doughnuts with two or more holes, but where each point on the surface curves upwards, like a saddle.
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North Korea has signaled a willingness to consider Moon’s overtures, but has voiced skepticism about the prospects for a breakthrough.
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Last December, Smith (23-1, 19 KOs) made a career breakthrough against Bernard Hopkins.
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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.
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For a while in her 20s, Brie focused on animals of the balloon variety, working as a party clown while hoofing it on the audition circuit until her 2006 breakthrough on an episode of Hannah Montana.
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Thus, an experimental technology that enhances sleep, according to the Northwestern University scientists who developed it, could present a breakthrough for older people suffering memory loss.
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But the sinker would be but one piece of a breakthrough.
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But there were some breakthroughs this year, such as Jessica Tookey (Best Artist) and some selections that are getting more and more interesting.
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
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: a sudden increase in knowledge, understanding, etc. : an important discovery that happens after trying for a long time to understand or explain something
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: 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
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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
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