it has broken through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has broken through" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something has successfully passed through a barrier or obstacle, whether literal or metaphorical. Example: "After months of research, the scientist announced that it has broken through the previous limitations in technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It has broken through to a new level of competence and its leaders can be trusted.

The Guardian

For the full year the company had sales of $107bn £75bnn), the first time it has broken through $100bn.

Independent

Overall, digital radio accounted for a 20.1% share of all radio listening, the first time it has broken through the 20% barrier, up from 18.3% in the previous quarter and 17.8% in the same period in 2008.

The Guardian

In recent decades, however, it has broken through that boundary: the AFL moved a team to Sydney in 1982, added a team in Brisbane in 1987 and welcomed a team from Gold Coast this year.The league is also starting to make a push abroad.

The Economist

"While it is nothing new that police have had carte blanche in their dealings with the low-income and immigrant community, it's the first time it has broken through to dissidents, students and the middle class," said Anthony D. Romero, the A.C.L.U.'s executive director.

The New York Times

The rule with marriage equality ought to be that, once it has broken through, politicians should embarrassedly breathe a sigh of relief and let it spread: having been keen to please voters, they can come out as human after being in the closet playing their politician role for too long.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It had broken through in one chink.

The Guardian

It had broken through the Kruger Park fence and wanted to return.

The Guardian - Travel

In April, the Guardian announced that it had broken through the 100 million monthly unique browser barrier for the first time, according to the latest ABC digital figures.

The Guardian

He realised that it had broken through the walls upstream to invade the town of Uckfield when tins of biscuits from the supermarket and thousands of video cassettes from Blockbuster started careering downstream.

The Guardian

Eritrea issued the statement after a two-day battle targeting the war's most heavily fortified border, the central border at and around Zalambessa. Ethiopia, which had called winning there the key to forcing a quick end to the war, said on Wednesday that it had broken through Eritrea's strongholds there.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it has broken through" when you want to emphasize that something has successfully overcome a significant barrier or obstacle, whether literal or metaphorical. For example, "The company has broken through previous sales records."

Common error

Avoid using "it has broken through" for minor or insignificant achievements. The phrase implies a substantial obstacle has been overcome. For example, it's better to say "it achieved" instead of "it has broken through" when referring to simply meeting a small target.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "it has broken through" is that of a present perfect verb phrase. It signifies that an action of breaking through occurred at an unspecified time in the past and has a present relevance. Ludwig examples show its use to describe advancements, breaches, or overcoming obstacles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it has broken through" is a grammatically sound present perfect verb phrase used to indicate the successful overcoming of a barrier or limitation. Ludwig AI affirms this usage. While relatively common, its use is typically found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral register. Alternative phrases like "it has penetrated" or "it has surpassed" offer nuanced variations. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a significant achievement and not a trivial matter.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it has burst through

Suggests a forceful and sudden breakthrough, adding intensity to the action.

it has penetrated

Focuses on the act of entering or piercing through something, rather than necessarily overcoming a barrier.

it has pushed through

Indicates a determined effort to overcome resistance.

it has surpassed

Emphasizes exceeding a limit or expectation, rather than a physical breach.

it has breached

Focuses on violating or creating an opening in a barrier or defense.

it has overcome

Highlights the act of conquering an obstacle or challenge.

it has gotten through

A more general term for successfully passing or navigating something.

it has conquered

Highlights the achievement of overcoming a significant challenge or obstacle.

it has transcended

Implies rising above or beyond something, often in a metaphorical sense.

it has navigated through

Implies careful maneuvering to successfully overcome obstacles.

FAQs

How can I use "it has broken through" in a sentence?

Use "it has broken through" to describe something that has successfully passed a barrier or overcome an obstacle. For instance, "The new technology "it has broken through" previous limitations.".

What are some alternatives to "it has broken through"?

You can use alternatives like "it has penetrated", "it has surpassed", or "it has overcome" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "it broke through" instead of "it has broken through"?

Both "it broke through" and ""it has broken through"" are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "It broke through" implies a single, completed action in the past, while "it has broken through" suggests an action that has relevance to the present.

What's the difference between "it has broken through" and "it went through"?

"It has broken through" implies overcoming resistance or a barrier, whereas "it went through" simply means it passed through something without necessarily facing opposition.