1. Making an important discovery
   "The scientist's breakthrough in cancer research offered new hope for patients"
    
2. A productive insight
   "The team's discovery of a new antibiotic was hailed as a major breakthrough";
   - discovery, find
    
3. A penetration of a barrier such as an enemy's defence
   "The army achieved a breakthrough in the enemy's fortified line"

1. Pass through (a barrier)
   "The runners finally broke through the wall of exhaustion";
   - crack
    
2. Penetrate
   "The sun broke through the clouds"; "The rescue team broke through the wall in the mine shaft";
   - come through
    
3. Break out
   "The tooth broke through and had to be extracted";
   - erupt, come out, push through

Derived forms: breaking through, breakthroughs, broke through, broken through, breaks through

See also: break

Type of: appear, brainstorm, brainwave, discovery, find, incursion, insight, pass, penetration, uncovering

Encyclopedia: Breakthrough