breakthroughnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈbreɪk.θruː/us/ˈbreɪk.θruː/B2 an important discovery or event that helps to improve a situation or provide an answer to a problem:
Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough in the search for a cure for cancer.
A major breakthrough in negotiations has been achieved.
More examples
- This drug has been heralded as a major breakthrough in the fight against breast cancer.
- They had minor breakthroughs but real success eluded them.
- Biological research has often been a precursor to medical breakthroughs which benefit patients.
- The leaders emphasized that a substantial breakthrough had been achieved, but there was more work to be done.
- Researchers reported another important breakthrough in cancer research.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Finding and discovering
- a fishing expedition idiom
- alight
- ascertain
- break fresh/new ground idiom
- catch sb red-handed idiom
- catch sb with their pants/trousers down idiom
- flush
- get wind of sth idiom
- happen
- happen on/upon sth/sb
- have a (good) nose for sth idiom
- have got something there idiom
- root sth/sb out
- run sb/sth to ground idiom
- scent
- search
- search sth/sb out
- smell
- sniff sth out
- stumble
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Turning points & deciding moments