milestone

noun

mile·​stone ˈmī(-ə)l-ˌstōn 

1

: a stone serving as a milepost (see milepost sense 1)

2

: a significant point in development

Graduating from college was an important milestone in her life.

Illustration of milestone

• milestone 1

Synonyms

• climacteric
• climax
• corner
• landmark
• milepost
• turning point
• watershed

Examples of milestone in a Sentence

the new drug was regarded as a milestone in the treatment of heart disease

Recent Examples on the Web

To mark the milestone, granddaughter Riley Keough shared an Instagram Stories tribute for Priscilla — the ex-wife of the late Elvis Presley. —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 25 May 2025

This inclusion marks a significant milestone for both the company and the broader cryptocurrency industry. —Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

This philosophical underpinning drives the company beyond mere resurrection spectacles — a critique often levied by academic skeptics following the company’s milestone de-extinction announcement. —Nia Bowers, USA Today, 24 May 2025

More big stories In post-fire milestone, Pacific Coast Highway reopens, clearing a traffic bottleneck. —Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for milestone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids Definition

milestone

noun

mile·​stone ˈmī(ə)l-ˌstōn 

1

: a milepost made of stone

2

: an important point in progress or development