breakthrough

noun

ˈbrāk-ˌthrü How to pronounce breakthrough (audio)
Definition of breakthroughnext
as in improvement
an instance of notable progress in the development of knowledge, technology, or skill Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin was one of medicine's great breakthroughs, for penicillin became the first antibiotic to successfully combat bacterial infections in humans

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of breakthrough The underlying message of Putnam’s career is that important breakthroughs often come from innovative thinking, and seriously engaging in multiple disciplines is a path to success. — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 The engineering breakthrough transforms the region’s transport network. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026 The breakthrough finally came in 2025 when investigators turned to forensic investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that combines advanced DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research to identify unknown victims. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026 Either way, a Philadelphia breakthrough would mean LeBron had won championships on the East Coast and the West Coast and in the Midwest and the South. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for breakthrough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakthrough
  1. improvement
  2. advance
  3. advancement
Noun
  • OpenAI says improvements in system efficiency made the reductions possible.
    — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Denver's defense was one of the best in the league last season, but there's always room for improvement.
    — Alex Wilcox, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of improvement
Noun
  • Kramatorsk, a town in the Donbas increasingly close to Russia’s inch-by-inch advances, and Kharkiv, a city nearer the Russian border, are also heavily impacted.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • The Rocket Classic and next week's Wyndham Championship are the last two tournaments left before the top 70 advance to the FedEx Cup postseason.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of advance
Noun
  • Under such an approach, negotiations would focus first on halting the production and advancement of nuclear weapons, rather than demanding the dismantlement of North Korea's existing arsenal at the outset.
    — Se Eun Gong, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Despite Japan’s technological advancements, China continues to maintain a considerable advantage in fleet size and shipbuilding capacity.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of advancement

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break the law
breakthrough
breakthroughs
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Cite this Entry

“Breakthrough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breakthrough. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on breakthrough

Nglish: Translation of breakthrough for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about breakthrough

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