the sound barrier
noun
: the large increase in air resistance that occurs as an aircraft nears the speed of sound and that was once an obstacle to traveling faster than the speed of sound
a plane that is able to break the sound barrier
Examples of the sound barrier in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The vehicle flew for about half a minute and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier.
—
ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
With their ability to fly at speeds in excess of five times the speed of sound, hypersonic missiles have the potential to revolutionize warfare in a way not seen since the sound barrier was cracked in 1947.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
While the speed at which artificial intelligence (A.I.) is pervading mainstream society could seemingly break the sound barrier, aviation authorities are taking a slower, more cautious approach to its potential applications in the cockpit.
—Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025
In his foreword, H. Lawrence Culp Jr, chairman and chief executive of General Electric, quotes approvingly another psychologist, Michael Gervais, who coached Felix Baumgartner, who in 2012 became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier in a jump that began 24 miles above the Earth’s surface.
—Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Watch On Boom Supersonic plans to break the sound barrier during a test flight this morning (Jan. 28).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Scholl said this testing proved that the technology was capable of breaking the sound barrier without producing an audible shock wave, which was the issue that confined the Concorde to transatlantic flights only.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Past winners include the Wright brothers, the team behind the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, and the first moon landing in 1969.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
And in feats of speed, the demonstrator aircraft for America’s first civil supersonic jet broke the sound barrier for the first time earlier this year.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
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.
ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
With their ability to fly at speeds in excess of five times the speed of sound, hypersonic missiles have the potential to revolutionize warfare in a way not seen since the sound barrier was cracked in 1947.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
While the speed at which artificial intelligence (A.I.) is pervading mainstream society could seemingly break the sound barrier, aviation authorities are taking a slower, more cautious approach to its potential applications in the cockpit.
—Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025
In his foreword, H. Lawrence Culp Jr, chairman and chief executive of General Electric, quotes approvingly another psychologist, Michael Gervais, who coached Felix Baumgartner, who in 2012 became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier in a jump that began 24 miles above the Earth’s surface.
—Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Watch On Boom Supersonic plans to break the sound barrier during a test flight this morning (Jan. 28).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Scholl said this testing proved that the technology was capable of breaking the sound barrier without producing an audible shock wave, which was the issue that confined the Concorde to transatlantic flights only.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Past winners include the Wright brothers, the team behind the first aircraft to break the sound barrier, and the first moon landing in 1969.
—Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
And in feats of speed, the demonstrator aircraft for America’s first civil supersonic jet broke the sound barrier for the first time earlier this year.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“The sound barrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sound%20barrier. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share