break ground

phrase

1
: to begin construction
breaking ground on a new wing of the hospital
2
or break new ground : to make or show discoveries : pioneer

Examples of break ground 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.
Workers began preparing the non-nuclear parts of the facility in June 2024, and broke ground on the nuclear site in April. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026 Program officials expect the three teams to break ground before next summer. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 The city of Atlanta broke ground this week on a $65 million, 130-unit affordable housing development in Lindbergh — one of metro Atlanta’s highest-income neighborhoods. — Elijah Megginson, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Three plants were approved in August 2025, of which two broke ground in Richland Parish in December 2025 and are due online in late 2028. — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for break ground

Word History

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of break ground was in 1673

Rhymes for break ground

See All Rhymes for break ground

Browse Nearby Words

breakfront
break ground
breakhead
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Break ground.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/break%20ground. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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