breakthroughbreak‧through /ˈbreɪkθruː/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
Examples
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. → break through at break1
► see thesaurus at progressCOLLOCATIONSverbsmake a breakthrough· Detectives think they may have made a breakthrough in their hunt for the murderer.achieve a breakthrough· With further funding, the research team hope to be able to achieve a breakthrough.represent a breakthrough· This represents a major breakthrough in the search for a cure.adjectivesa big/major breakthrough· Einstein believed he was on the verge of a big breakthrough.a significant/important breakthrough· Another very significant breakthrough has been made by Dr David Peacock.a technological/scientific breakthrough· Their findings led to a major technological breakthrough.a historic breakthrough· The agreement was a historic breakthrough in political history.
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- Egypt and Jordan welcomed news of the deal as a major breakthrough.
- Negotiators have made a breakthrough on the most difficult issue of employment security.
- Police say they have made a breakthrough in their search for the killer of Diane Sutton.
- Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the treatment of AIDS.
- Scientists at Merck were nearing a breakthrough on a new drug to treat HIV.
- The technique is being described as a breakthrough in the field of tele-medicine.
- There has been an important breakthrough in the search for safe nuclear energy.
- This was an important breakthrough that had an enormous impact on the scientific community.
- Each at the cutting edge of possibility within its own historical context, each a breakthrough in the standards of its day.
- However, elements on both sides oppose further compromise, and on Monday there was little optimism about a breakthrough.
- I envisioned entire forests being spared by this breakthrough.
- One man's breakthrough is often another's trifling adaptation.
- Rather than fill me with ecstasy or gladness, this breakthrough overpowered me with dread.
- The announcement was widely hailed in the media as a breakthrough, but the extent of the restrictions was not specified.
- The real breakthrough for polythene came, however, from yet another accident.
- This made possible the breakthrough which facilitated such massive installations as the one at the Niagara Falls.
THESAURUS► progress
Collocations noun [uncountable] the process of getting better at doing something, or getting closer to finishing or achieving something: · a test of the students’ progress· We have made good progress towards meeting our objectives.
► advance noun [countable usually plural] a discovery, invention, or change that brings progress: · the technological advances of the twentieth century· advances in scientific knowledge· In recent years there have been enormous economic and social advances.
► breakthrough noun [countable] an important discovery or achievement that makes progress possible, especially one that happens suddenly after a long period of trying: · Scientists have described the discovery as a major breakthrough.· The breakthrough in the investigation came when police found a stolen car.
► make headway to make progress towards achieving something – used especially when it is difficult to make progress: · After several months of discussion, the committee had made little headway.
Longman Language Activatorsuccess when you are trying to achieve something► progress · The new national tests are intended to keep a closer check on children's progress.progress in · Any progress in cancer research may help to save lives.progress on · Bad weather has prevented progress on retrieving the plane from the sea.economic/political/social etc progress · Spencer insisted that free enterprise was the key to social progress.
► advance a new discovery or invention that brings progress: · The discovery marks a significant technological advance.advance in: · Dr Martineau had written an article about advances in medicine over the last five years.
► breakthrough an important discovery or achievement that makes it possible to progress, especially one that happens suddenly after a long period of trying: a big/dramatic/major etc breakthrough: · Egypt and Jordan welcomed news of the deal as a major breakthrough.breakthrough in: · There has been an important breakthrough in the search for safe nuclear energy.breakthrough on: · Scientists at Merck were nearing a breakthrough on a new drug to treat HIV.make/achieve a breakthrough: · Negotiators have made a breakthrough on the most difficult issue of employment security.
► milestone a very important event in the progress of development of something, especially the first time that something important is done: milestone in: · For most people, the birth of their first child is a milestone in their lives.an important/major/significant etc milestone: · His decision to accept the university's offer was an important milestone in his career.a milestone in the development/history/life etc of something: · The album 'Kind Of Blue' proved to be a milestone in the development of modern jazz.· This year has seen another milestone in the life of the Society, in that our assets passed the £3 billion mark.a milestone on/along the road to something: · We believe that what we have agreed today will be a milestone on the road to true peace and prosperity in our country.mark a milestone in something: · The expedition marked a milestone in the history of exploration.
► step an action or discovery that brings progress and that combines with other actions or discoveries to take you closer to the result you want to achieve: a big/important/major etc step : · Of course, starting the job-search is always a big step.step in: · The discovery of penicillin was a gigantic step in the treatment of infections.step forward: · The new law on drunk driving is being seen as a major step forward.step towardsBritish /toward American: · Identifying the cause of a disease must always be the first step towards finding a cure.step in the right direction: · Re-thinking our management techniques would be an important step in the right direction.
► stepping stone an event or action that is not always very important itself but helps you to progress towards achieving something: · For the unemployed, temporary jobs can be a useful stepping stone.stepping stone to/towards: · A teaching post is often only a stepping stone to a better paid profession.· The agreement was an important diplomatic stepping stone towards independence.
something that you succeed in doing► success when someone or something is successful: · The president believed that his approach was the only one with any chance of success.· After her recent successes in Tokyo and New York, Bjork has returned to perform in England.· Auster was surprised at the success of his latest novel.· Critics have been astonished at the film's success.be a success: · The concert was a great success.success in: · Success in business depends on hard work, determination, and good ideas.(a) big/huge/outstanding etc success: · Many first-class students go on to have even greater success.
► achievement something important that you succeed in doing by your own efforts and that other people admire: · Winning three gold medals is a remarkable achievement.· They read about his achievements in the press, and were filled with pride.· He didn't realize until much later what a spectacular achievement his father made in getting his commission as an officer. · Todd always downplayed his athletic achievements.
► progress when you gradually get closer to the result you want to achieve: · We are very pleased with your son's progress at school.· a progress reportprogress in: · Progress in technology has changed people's lives dramatically.progress towards: · We are making steady progress towards equal status for men and women.make progress: · Yes, we've made progress. But there's so much more to do.· The two sides are making some progress toward a compromise.
► breakthrough an important discovery or achievement, especially one that happens suddenly after people have been trying for a long time: · This was an important breakthrough that had an enormous impact on the scientific community.breakthrough in: · Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the treatment of AIDS.· The technique is being described as a breakthrough in the field of tele-medicine.make a breakthrough: · Police say they have made a breakthrough in their search for the killer of Diane Sutton.
► accomplishment something good that someone has succeeded in doing and that they are proud of doing: · The Society is giving a dinner for top businesswomen, to reward and recognize their accomplishments.· The team's undefeated run this year is an outstanding accomplishment.· The establishment of full diplomatic relations with China was a major accomplishment of the Carter administration.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs► make a breakthrough
an important new discovery in something you are studying, especially one made after trying for a long timebreakthrough in· Detectives think they may have made a breakthrough in their hunt for the murderer.
► achieve a breakthrough· With further funding, the research team hope to be able to achieve a breakthrough.
► represent a breakthrough· This represents a major breakthrough in the search for a cure.
adjectives► a big/major breakthrough· Einstein believed he was on the verge of a big breakthrough.
► a significant/important breakthrough· Another very significant breakthrough has been made by Dr David Peacock.
► a technological/scientific breakthrough· Their findings led to a major technological breakthrough.
► a historic breakthrough· The agreement was a historic breakthrough in political history.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► big· His big breakthrough was to get parliament to accept a high technology spending programme up to 1985 with a commitment to priorities.· Had we taken their advice the nurses would never have received what has proved for them their biggest breakthrough since the war.· Such abilities and equipment gave them the opportunity to make the big evolutionary breakthrough which eventually lead to Homosapiens.· It finished the year with the launch of the Twingo, arguably the biggest breakthrough in small car design since the Mini.· The project predicted that their big breakthrough, would come in 1990.
► early· One-Zon-Flexon was an early nineties breakthrough.
► great· Sir Patrick Mayhew, the latest incumbent of this difficult office, is not thought to be expecting any great political breakthrough.· The great breakthrough of this century is that we can move information and ideas easily.· The acquisition of those two characters constituted the next great evolutionary breakthrough.· The greatest breakthrough came in the field of dating.
► important· A spokesman for Friends of the Earth described the statement as an important breakthrough.· It was such an important breakthrough, however, that other states immediately began to look into it.· The important breakthrough came late on Oct. 24 following a day of intensive negotiations.· It went on to make important breakthroughs in satellites, radar and high-tech communications.· The results of these, and other primaries held during June, included important political breakthroughs for women and black candidates.· In Wiltshire trading standards officers have made an important breakthrough in cracking the crime.
► major· Police believe the items are a major breakthrough in the six-week-old inquiry.· Acknowledging that connection has been one of the major intellectual breakthroughs of this century.· That would be a major breakthrough and would certainly assist us in formulating our policy as we move towards government.· That would be another major breakthrough, offering a huge distribution channel for the product.· It is difficult to be optimistic about the prospect of a major breakthrough.· So we can make a major breakthrough here.· Whether or not the story is true, there is no doubt that the imprisonment was a major breakthrough for both religious and political Paisleyism.· This was a major breakthrough for the objectors.
► medical· For the doctor its a medical breakthrough ... drugs fired through the skin without piercing it.· Travel surveys often sound as suspect as medical breakthroughs: Apples are the most healthful food.· Meanwhile, thanks to a series of startling medical breakthroughs, his father was recovering from his debilitating strokes.· There were positive byproducts of the dreaded bomb, including invaluable scientific and medical breakthroughs.· Spectacular medical breakthroughs sometimes occur, but they occur more commonly in science fiction than in the course of everyday scientific research.· Programs will be reviewed periodically with an eye on medical breakthroughs and will be updated as new information becomes available.
► real· The real breakthrough for polythene came, however, from yet another accident.· The potential for a real breakthrough is there.
► scientific· Meanwhile the search goes on for a scientific breakthrough.· There were positive byproducts of the dreaded bomb, including invaluable scientific and medical breakthroughs.· It is a total exercise programme involving the very latest scientific breakthroughs in the field of muscular development.· I told her I had the possibility of making a serious technological, even scientific breakthrough, but I needed some backing.· If this scientific breakthrough comes, nature will unmistakably have yielded up another of its secrets.
► significant· By September Haig was desperate to achieve a significant breakthrough.· The Postal Service announced Tuesday it has made a significant breakthrough in getting machines to read handwriting.· The demonstration itself was filmed live by Czechoslovak television - itself a highly significant breakthrough.· Mike Widmer, Caldaire's managing director, believes a Government promise to waive the clause could be a significant breakthrough.· Behind virtually every significant performance breakthrough lies a trail of trial and error, qualified triumph, and failed experimentation.· It was a mixed night for the Liberal Democrats, who also failed to make a significant breakthrough.
► technological· If I was a scientist it would be like finding a cure for for a disease or a technological breakthrough.· In other words, a technological breakthrough supposedly ushered in new symbolic meanings.· The Ti'Ko range is not only remarkable for its price, it also boasts a technological breakthrough in graphics speed.· New switching techniques and other technological breakthroughs enable all types of information to travel to the home.· Composed in 1849, Sellers says the piece owes its life to a technological breakthrough: the invention of the valve.· This game is truly a technological breakthrough.· And departmental power can change over time, depending on economic conditions, technological breakthroughs, and government legislation.
VERB► achieve· Nevertheless, Nivelle resolved to attack, certain that he could achieve a decisive breakthrough.· Successful diplomacy will be defined by the ability to avoid a crisis rather than achieve a breakthrough.· President Bill Clinton paid a two-day visit to Northern Ireland with little expectation of achieving a breakthrough in the beleaguered political process.· But once again, Dole did not soar in the polls and did not achieve a breakthrough.· Boro were seen more as an attacking force in this half without achieving a breakthrough.· In the end, General Sickles achieved his breakthrough.· By September Haig was desperate to achieve a significant breakthrough.· The new decoder uses an amplitude locked loop in combination with a phase locked loop to achieve this breakthrough.
► lead· The new discipline thus has the capacity to lead the way to breakthroughs in the treatment of any number of degenerative diseases.
► make· Moreover, other inventors may be stimulated by what they see to make a breakthrough in an entirely different area.· This made possible the breakthrough which facilitated such massive installations as the one at the Niagara Falls.· Rangers made the breakthrough five minutes into the second half.· The Postal Service announced Tuesday it has made a significant breakthrough in getting machines to read handwriting.· The Real team made a huge breakthrough with SureStream for G2 a couple of years ago.· It went on to make important breakthroughs in satellites, radar and high-tech communications.· Such abilities and equipment gave them the opportunity to make the big evolutionary breakthrough which eventually lead to Homosapiens.· Cossio said his investigators also made some breakthroughs in kidnappings.
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. → break through at break1► see thesaurus at progressCOLLOCATIONSverbsmake a breakthrough· Detectives think they may have made a breakthrough in their hunt for the murderer.achieve a breakthrough· With further funding, the research team hope to be able to achieve a breakthrough.represent a breakthrough· This represents a major breakthrough in the search for a cure.adjectivesa big/major breakthrough· Einstein believed he was on the verge of a big breakthrough.a significant/important breakthrough· Another very significant breakthrough has been made by Dr David Peacock.a technological/scientific breakthrough· Their findings led to a major technological breakthrough.a historic breakthrough· The agreement was a historic breakthrough in political history.