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

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If the technique is executed correctly, the shock wave produced when the plane breaks the sound barrier bends upward due to temperature and wind speed changes between the air at altitude and the air closer to the ground. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 The quad-exhaust’s configuration is taken directly from that of the Bell X-1, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026 Earlier this year, the XB-1 demonstrator broke the sound barrier for the first time. — Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 22 June 2026 His feat was kept secret for about a year when the world thought the British had broken the sound barrier first. — ABC News, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for the sound barrier

Rhymes for the sound barrier

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Cite this Entry

“The sound barrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sound%20barrier. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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