breakthrough

Pluralbreakthroughs

1. 1
   nouncountable

   An important success or discovery that gets past a big problem.

   Like finally opening a door you have been stuck behind for a long time.

   Scientists made a breakthrough in cancer treatment last year.

   Her new idea turned out to be a real breakthrough for the team.

   Similaradvance, discovery, innovation, leap, milestone

   Oppositesetback

2. 2
   adjective

   Bringing major progress or getting past a hard problem.

   This breakthrough treatment has already saved many lives.

   The team won a breakthrough award for their invention.

   Similargroundbreaking, pioneering, revolutionary, innovative

   Oppositeincremental, derivative

   Note
3. 3
   nouncountable

   A push that moves soldiers through and past the enemy's line.

   Like pushing through a fence to reach the other side.

   The army's breakthrough opened a path deep into enemy land.

   After the breakthrough, the troops advanced quickly toward the city.

   Similarbreach, penetration

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A move that gets the ball past the other team's defense.

   Like getting past the last player guarding the goal.

   Her quick breakthrough led to the winning goal.

   The striker made a breakthrough down the right side.

   Note
5. 5
   adjective

   Describing an illness caught by someone who was less likely to get it, like a vaccinated person.

   She had a breakthrough infection even after her shots.

   Doctors recorded a few breakthrough cases among vaccinated patients.

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountablebefore a noun

   The return of symptoms even while a person is taking medicine for them.

   He felt a breakthrough of pain between his regular doses.

   The patient reported a breakthrough of symptoms despite the medicine.

   Similarrecurrence, flare-up

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   The moment when digging breaks through a wall and joins two spaces, like two tunnel ends meeting.

   Like two people digging a tunnel from each side until their shovels finally meet.

   The crew celebrated the breakthrough when the two tunnels finally met.

   Workers reached the breakthrough after months of careful digging.

   Note

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