break·through
ˈbrāk-ˌthrü 
plural breakthroughs
1
a
: a sudden advance especially in knowledge or technique
a medical breakthrough
b
: a person's first notable success
—often used before another noun
a breakthrough novel
the actress's breakthrough performance
2
a
: an act or instance of moving through or beyond an obstacle
a breakthrough in the talks between the region's leaders
a breakthrough agreement
b
: an instance of passing through a barrier or protection
The ice under the surface begins to deteriorate, increasing the risk of breakthroughs.—
Vicki Winger
Vicki Winger
specifically, medical
: infection occurring in someone who is fully vaccinated against an infectious agent
A vaccine breakthrough occurs when a person tests positive for COVID-19 two weeks after being fully vaccinated against the disease … —David Rasbach
—often used before another noun David Rasbach Two other CDC studies of breakthrough cases at nursing homes showed the vaccines protected residents, even when the virus spread through the homes. —Maura Dolan
Maura Dolan … the academy recently recommended that children receive two doses of the chicken pox vaccine, rather than just one, because the additional dose bolsters immunity and may help reduce breakthrough infection. —Maria Raven
Maria Raven 3
warfare
: an offensive military assault that penetrates and carries beyond a defensive line
broke through; broken through; breaking through; breaks through
: to make a breakthrough
Synonyms
Examples of breakthrough in a Sentence
Noun
Researchers say they have made a major breakthrough in cancer treatment.
The police have announced a breakthrough in the murder case.
This job could be the breakthrough she's been waiting for.
Recent Examples on the WebHolly Maloney, Fortune, 10 May 2024
Land management officials revealed new clues that will hopefully lead to a breakthrough in the killing of 19 burros along a California highway in 2019.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 9 May 2024
Within industry, where many of today’s AI breakthroughs are happening, companies like OpenAI are actively striving to create AGI, but include research on AGI’s social dimensions and safety issues only as their corporate leaders see fit.
—Edmon Begoli, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2024
However, Braun's opponents have certainly put together the resources to push for a breakthrough.
—Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 6 May 2024
There's some broader context to that Detroit breakthrough: The Recording Industry Association of America, which tracks streaming stats and album sales, recently reported that Latin music revenues in the U.S. hit $1.4 billion last year, up 16% from 2022.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2024
And with no breakthrough yet in Mideast negotiations for a short-term cease-fire and hostage release, the political pressure on President Biden builds.
—CBS News, 5 May 2024
Progress has been made — President Biden’s recognition of the genocide in 2021 was seen as a major breakthrough — but a unified understanding of this history still faces major opposition, not least from Turkey, whose role in the atrocities has long been denied by the government.
—Hugh Morris, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2024
The only breakthrough came on Helfrick's home run, a 387-blast to left field for the freshman's third of the season.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 27 Apr. 2024
Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
Her voice takes to its psychedelic funk background; her coos grow and stretch like fresh buds breaking through soil.
—Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 10 May 2024
Its marketing of the Apple Vision Pro, released in January, struggled to help that device break through with many customers.
—Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 8 May 2024
There, a crowd broke through police barricades, breached the building and attempted to stop the joint session of Congress where electoral votes were being counted in the 2020 presidential election.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 May 2024
One challenge is that many people are still using pre-pandemic prices as their benchmark, so any other economic message the president is trying to send isn't breaking through.
—Asma Khalid, NPR, 2 May 2024
Her voice breaks through to request the producer do a playback or to ask the director for the pronunciation of a word.
—Jessica Cruel, Allure, 2 May 2024
Police in Istanbul used tear gas and fired rubber bullets to disperse thousands of people who tried to break through a barricade and reach the main Taksim square in defiance of a ban on celebrating Labor Day there.
—Mehmet Guzel and Hyung-Jin Kim, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2024
The campus was packed with hundreds of people who supported the encampment, forming a picket line on all sides of the lawn; when the police broke through, the supporters erupted in chants and jeers.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
Noun
However, the speed of progress and number of breakthroughs would greatly increase if more men took an active role in trying to reverse the tide of the maternal health crisis.
—Holly Maloney, Fortune, 10 May 2024
Land management officials revealed new clues that will hopefully lead to a breakthrough in the killing of 19 burros along a California highway in 2019.
—Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 9 May 2024
Within industry, where many of today’s AI breakthroughs are happening, companies like OpenAI are actively striving to create AGI, but include research on AGI’s social dimensions and safety issues only as their corporate leaders see fit.
—Edmon Begoli, IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2024
However, Braun's opponents have certainly put together the resources to push for a breakthrough.
—Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 6 May 2024
There's some broader context to that Detroit breakthrough: The Recording Industry Association of America, which tracks streaming stats and album sales, recently reported that Latin music revenues in the U.S. hit $1.4 billion last year, up 16% from 2022.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2024
And with no breakthrough yet in Mideast negotiations for a short-term cease-fire and hostage release, the political pressure on President Biden builds.
—CBS News, 5 May 2024
Progress has been made — President Biden’s recognition of the genocide in 2021 was seen as a major breakthrough — but a unified understanding of this history still faces major opposition, not least from Turkey, whose role in the atrocities has long been denied by the government.
—Hugh Morris, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2024
The only breakthrough came on Helfrick's home run, a 387-blast to left field for the freshman's third of the season.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 27 Apr. 2024
Verb
Ukraine’s defense ministry said its forces had blunted an initial Russian attempt to break through Ukrainian lines outside the border town of Vovchansk, but that fighting of varying intensity continued in the area.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2024
Her voice takes to its psychedelic funk background; her coos grow and stretch like fresh buds breaking through soil.
—Margaret Farrell, SPIN, 10 May 2024
Its marketing of the Apple Vision Pro, released in January, struggled to help that device break through with many customers.
—Tripp Mickle, New York Times, 8 May 2024
There, a crowd broke through police barricades, breached the building and attempted to stop the joint session of Congress where electoral votes were being counted in the 2020 presidential election.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 May 2024
One challenge is that many people are still using pre-pandemic prices as their benchmark, so any other economic message the president is trying to send isn't breaking through.
—Asma Khalid, NPR, 2 May 2024
Her voice breaks through to request the producer do a playback or to ask the director for the pronunciation of a word.
—Jessica Cruel, Allure, 2 May 2024
Police in Istanbul used tear gas and fired rubber bullets to disperse thousands of people who tried to break through a barricade and reach the main Taksim square in defiance of a ban on celebrating Labor Day there.
—Mehmet Guzel and Hyung-Jin Kim, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2024
The campus was packed with hundreds of people who supported the encampment, forming a picket line on all sides of the lawn; when the police broke through, the supporters erupted in chants and jeers.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'breakthrough.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Breakthrough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breakthrough. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
breakthrough
noun
break·through
ˈbrāk-ˌthrü
: a sudden advance in knowledge or technique
a breakthrough in medical science
Medical Definition
breakthrough
noun
break·through
ˈbrāk-ˌthrü
: infection occurring in someone who is fully vaccinated against an infectious agent
—often used before another noun
breakthrough infections
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