breakthrough
BRAYK-throo
Breakthrough (noun) means a sudden, important advance or discovery that overcomes a major obstacle. Example: “Scientists announced a breakthrough in cancer treatment.”
noun
1
A sudden, important advance or discovery that overcomes a major obstacle.
"Scientists announced a breakthrough in cancer treatment."
"The negotiations finally had a breakthrough after weeks of deadlock."
"The engineers had a breakthrough when they finally found the cause of the fault."
adj
1
Describing a case of illness occurring despite protection, such as after vaccination.
"She had a mild breakthrough infection despite being vaccinated."
How to use breakthrough
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA major step forward that solves or gets past something that had been blocking progress.
Common pairings
scientific breakthrough
breakthrough infection
major breakthrough
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Word forms
- Plural
- breakthroughs
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Scientists announced a _____ in cancer treatment.
Etymology
From break + through, describing progress that pushes past a barrier.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for breakthrough
See all rhymes for breakthrough →Frequently asked questions
What does “breakthrough” mean?
The word “breakthrough” means a sudden, important advance or discovery that overcomes a major obstacle. In plain terms, a major step forward that solves or gets past something that had been blocking progress.
How do you pronounce “breakthrough”?
“Breakthrough” is pronounced BRAYK-throo (/ˈbɹeɪk.θɹuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “breakthrough” in a sentence?
Here is “breakthrough” used in a sentence: “Scientists announced a breakthrough in cancer treatment.”
What part of speech is “breakthrough”?
Depending on how it is used, “breakthrough” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “breakthrough” a common word?
“Breakthrough” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “breakthrough” have?
“Breakthrough” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, important advance or discovery that overcomes a major obstacle.
What is a breakthrough infection?
A breakthrough infection is an illness that occurs despite a person having protection against it, such as after vaccination. The term highlights that the infection "broke through" an expected barrier of immunity.
What is the difference between a breakthrough and an improvement?
A breakthrough is a sudden, important advance that overcomes a major obstacle, while an improvement is typically a gradual, incremental change. Breakthroughs are notable precisely because they represent a decisive leap rather than steady progress.
Can "breakthrough" be used as an adjective before a noun?
Yes, "breakthrough" functions as an adjective in phrases like "breakthrough case" or "breakthrough treatment," describing something that occurs despite existing protection or that represents a major advance. This adjective use is common in medical and scientific writing.
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