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 Zuckerberg said Reality Labs will only release new products when true breakthroughs are achieved. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 The color stories were supported by the mill’s breakthrough technology, True Fit, which provides structural memory to rigid and low-stretch fabrics. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 Although modern recreational hot-air ballooning was still in its infancy in the United States, its popularity was soaring, with technological breakthroughs in the 1960s having made the sport safer and more predictable. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 While Murphy was behind The WB’s Popular and FX’s Nip/Tuck, Glee marked his first major broadcast breakthrough, winning his first Emmy for directing the pilot episode. — Peter White, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for breakthrough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakthrough
  1. improvement
  2. advance
  3. advancement
Noun
  • Yield improvements averaged fourfold and reached as high as 40-fold.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Locked chats, by contrast, remain saved and follow a user’s existing model-improvement setting.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of improvement
Noun
  • Voters have already started casting advance ballots in many parts of the state.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Despite more than 25 years of advances in home entertainment, nothing quite matches the tactile thrill of launching a metal ball around a wooden cabinet.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of advance
Noun
  • Compensation and advancement below the partner level can’t just be about minimizing cost.
    — Tim Brackney, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • At the same time, Anthropic has landed at the center of ongoing concerns over the breakneck pace of AI advancement.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on breakthrough

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about breakthrough

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