Word
breakthrough
Meanings
a major discovery or development that leads to significant progress
an important moment of progress after difficulty, especially in work, learning, or creativity
a sudden advance through a barrier or line into a new area
Definition
A breakthrough is an important discovery or development that solves a problem or makes major progress.
A breakthrough is a big step forward that changes what is possible in a field or situation. It often happens after a long period of effort or limited progress. People use it for science and technology, but also for personal or creative work when someone finally makes real progress.
Examples
- After months of failed trials, the team finally announced a breakthrough that made the process stable.
- I had a breakthrough while revising my presentation, and the structure suddenly felt coherent.
- She described the breakthrough as a turning point that reshaped the entire project timeline.
- They celebrated a breakthrough in negotiations when both sides accepted the same core principle.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use "breakthrough" as a verb ("to breakthrough") instead of using "break through" or "make a breakthrough."
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