a military movement or advance all the way through and beyond an enemy's frontline defense.
an act or instance of removing or surpassing an obstruction or restriction; the overcoming of a stalemate: The president reported a breakthrough in the treaty negotiations.
any significant or sudden advance, development, achievement, or increase, as in scientific knowledge or diplomacy, that removes a barrier to progress: The jet engine was a major breakthrough in air transport.
adjective
constituting a breakthrough: engineered with breakthrough technology; Critics called it a breakthrough film.
Origin of breakthrough
First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase break through
Words nearby breakthrough
break the back of, break the bank, break the ice, break the news, break the record, breakthrough, breaktime, breakup, break-up value, breakwater, breakweather
It takes a level of commitment to breakthrough authentically.
‘A different language’: Why venturing into meme-based marketing can be risky for brands|Kristina Monllos|August 28, 2020|Digiday
At the same time, though, under Cook’s stewardship, Apple has largely failed to come up with breakthrough successors to the iPhone.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is fulfilling another Steve Jobs vision|Rachel Schallom|August 24, 2020|Fortune
Lowe’s made big breakthroughs in the second quarter in markets where it has long lagged Home Depot, most notably the professional contract market and city stores.
How Lowe’s CEO is overhauling its e-commerce to capitalize on the home projects boom|Phil Wahba|August 19, 2020|Fortune
The finding marks a major breakthrough in a search of almost 20 years, carried out in particle physics labs all over the world.
CERN: Physicists Report the Discovery of Unique New Particle|Harry Cliff|July 15, 2020|Singularity Hub
The key to the breakthrough was a two-fold increase in the ground stations’ ability to collect entangled photons.
China Takes Another Step Towards Uncrackable Quantum Communication|Edd Gent|June 15, 2020|Singularity Hub
While many today lament that iPhones and iPads have become almost extra limbs, for Hockney they were a breakthrough for his art.
The Many Lives of Artist David Hockney|William O’Connor|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After all, the 1972 breakthrough with China is a huge moment.
Will the Tapes That Destroyed Nixon Help Rehabilitate His Image?|Scott Porch|August 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For Schwarzenegger fans like me, the movie had all the makings of a breakthrough.
Is This the End of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Comeback?|Andrew Romano|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So was the real target of this GOP "breakthrough," which itself was explained only in vague and formulaic terms.
The Indispensible Nancy Pelosi|Robert Shrum|March 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The breakthrough occurred when he realized scientists needed to make the problem simpler.
How a Thumb-Sized Gauge Is Revolutionizing Traumatic Brain Injuries|Brian Castner|March 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That was the day when an old acquaintance from the lower levels sold him the chance on the 80th Level's breakthrough.
Second Sight|Basil Eugene Wells
Nevertheless, the two scientists were jubilant at this first breakthrough.
Tom Swift and The Visitor from Planet X|Victor Appleton
No person shall place refuse in, or obstruct any airway or breakthrough used as an airway.
Mining Laws of Ohio, 1921|Anonymous
The required air current shall be conducted to the breakthrough nearest the face of such entry or room.
Mining Laws of Ohio, 1921|Anonymous
He called it a breakthrough in the field of perpetual motion.
With No Strings Attached|Gordon Randall Garrett (AKA David Gordon)
British Dictionary definitions for breakthrough
break through
verb
(intr)to penetrate
(intr, adverb)to achieve success, make a discovery, etc, esp after lengthy efforts
nounbreakthrough
a significant development or discovery, esp in science
the penetration of an enemy's defensive position or line in depth and strength
Penetrate a barrier or obstruction, as in They broke through the wall to get into the vault, or It won't be long before we break through the code and map all human genes. Used literally for going through a physical barrier since about 1400, this phrase began to be used figuratively in the late 1500s.