groundbreaker

noun

ground·​break·​er ˈgrau̇n(d)-ˌbrā-kər How to pronounce groundbreaker (audio)
Synonyms of groundbreakernext
: one that innovates : pioneer

Examples of groundbreaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And that's like a groundbreaker too. — Emily Elias, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Feb. 2026 Inez Jackson was a true San Jose groundbreaker. — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 19 May 2026 The company has been a groundbreaker in Spain for publishing its supplier lists, which shed light on its production footprint. — Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 Randall added a tip of the hat to Billboard-charting Grand Ole Opry-performing groundbreaker Linda Martell. — Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for groundbreaker

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of groundbreaker was in 1926

Rhymes for groundbreaker

See All Rhymes for groundbreaker

Browse Nearby Words

ground box
groundbreaker
groundbreaking
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Groundbreaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groundbreaker. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on groundbreaker

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for groundbreaker

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All