break through: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal; common in news, business, academic, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “break through” mean?
To successfully overcome a significant obstacle, barrier, or resistance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To successfully overcome a significant obstacle, barrier, or resistance; to make a sudden, important advance or discovery.
Can refer to physical penetration, conceptual innovation, emotional or psychological progress, or the point of a sudden positive change after a period of difficulty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both treat 'breakthrough' (noun) and 'break through' (verb phrase) identically. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Identical. Connotes innovation, success against odds, and significant progress.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “break through” in a Sentence
break through + NP (object)break through + to + NP (destination/state)NP (subject) + break throughVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “break through” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Researchers hope to break through in renewable energy storage this decade.
- The footballer broke through the defence to score.
American English
- The startup finally broke through to profitability in Q3.
- After hours of talks, they broke through the diplomatic stalemate.
adverb
British English
- N/A – 'break through' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A – 'break through' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- She is a breakthrough artist in the contemporary scene.
- The paper published breakthrough research on graphene.
American English
- The company announced a breakthrough technology for carbon capture.
- His breakthrough role catapulted him to fame.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to entering a new market, achieving a sales target, or innovating a product.
Academic
Describes a major discovery in research or a new theoretical understanding.
Everyday
Used for personal achievements, like overcoming shyness or a learning plateau.
Technical
In medicine, refers to a disease symptom recurring despite treatment; in physics, can refer to exceeding a threshold.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “break through”
- Using 'breakthrough' as a verb (e.g., 'He breakthrough the problem' – incorrect). Verb is 'break through'.
- Confusing 'break through' with 'break in' (forcible entry) or 'break out' (escape).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends. The verb is the phrasal verb 'break through' (two words). The noun and adjective is 'breakthrough' (one word).
The past tense is 'broke through'. The past participle is 'broken through' (e.g., 'They have broken through').
Typically not. It implies a significant, often difficult, advance. For minor progress, use 'make progress' or 'get past'.
They are close synonyms. 'Break through' often adds an image of physically piercing a barrier or a sudden change after struggle. 'Overcome' is more general for conquering a problem.
To successfully overcome a significant obstacle, barrier, or resistance.
Break through is usually neutral to formal; common in news, business, academic, and everyday contexts. in register.
Break through: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbreɪk ˈθruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbreɪk ˈθruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Light at the end of the tunnel (related concept)”
- “Turn the corner (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a runner BREAKing THROUGH a finish-line ribbon after a long race.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION; OBSTACLES ARE SOLID BARRIERS.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'break through' CORRECTLY?