make a breakthrough

USAGE SUMMARY

"make a breakthrough" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of achieving a significant and sudden advancement or improvement in something. Example sentence: The team was finally able to make a breakthrough in their research after months of hard work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He had trained very, very hard to make a breakthrough.

The New York Times - Sports

Could pressure help the Greens to finally make a breakthrough?

The Guardian

So it is possible for them to make a breakthrough".

The Guardian - Sport

"He never needed to make a breakthrough record," Mr. Swanson said.

The New York Times - Arts

These counter-revolutionary forces appear at the precise moment one is poised to make a breakthrough.

The New Yorker

In California and elsewhere, it's never enough to make a breakthrough.

The New York Times - Books

Maybe some American scientist in a laboratory somewhere is about to make a breakthrough.

The New York Times

It would be hard to make a breakthrough picture of, say, a baby.

The New York Times

But to make a breakthrough, the promotion provided by  the record labels still seems essential.

Independent

Whenever the Greens make a breakthrough, he said, the area is suddenly swamped with Labour activists.

The Guardian

When they failed to make a breakthrough, more talks were arranged.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make a breakthrough", ensure the context clearly indicates a significant and positive advancement or discovery. For instance, specify the area in which the breakthrough occurred for better clarity.

Common error

While "make a breakthrough" signifies a notable advancement, using it for minor or incremental progress can dilute its impact. Reserve this phrase for situations where there is a substantial and significant development.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a breakthrough" functions primarily as a verbal phrase, often used to describe the action of achieving a significant advancement or discovery. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in diverse contexts, from scientific research to political progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "make a breakthrough" is a widely used and grammatically sound way to describe achieving a significant advancement or discovery. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's applicable across diverse contexts, though most frequently found in News & Media and Science. To enhance clarity, specify the area of advancement when using this phrase and avoid applying it to minor progress. Alternatives like "achieve a breakthrough" offer similar meanings. Overall, "make a breakthrough" effectively conveys a sense of overcoming obstacles and reaching a notable milestone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieve a breakthrough

This alternative uses "achieve" instead of "make", emphasizing the accomplishment of the breakthrough.

attain a breakthrough

Replaces "make" with "attain", highlighting the successful reaching of a significant advancement.

achieve success

This emphasizes the successful outcome, a broader concept than just a breakthrough.

make headway

Focuses on making progress, though not necessarily a sudden or dramatic advancement.

make progress

This is a more general term for improvement, lacking the specific sense of a sudden leap.

reach a turning point

Emphasizes the change in direction or trajectory as a result of significant progress.

overcome an obstacle

This alternative underlines overcoming a hurdle, resulting in a successful change in direction or trajectory.

reach a milestone

Refers to reaching a significant point in development, not necessarily a sudden advancement.

forge a path

Highlights the creation of a new approach or method, leading to progress.

pave the way

Similar to forging a path, but emphasizes the preparation for future advancements.

FAQs

How can I use "make a breakthrough" in a sentence?

You can use "make a breakthrough" to describe achieving a significant advancement or discovery, like in the sentence "The scientists were able to "make a breakthrough" in cancer research after years of study".

What are some alternatives to "make a breakthrough"?

Alternatives include "achieve a breakthrough", "attain a breakthrough", or simply "achieve success", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "achieve a breakthrough" or "make a breakthrough"?

Both "make a breakthrough" and "achieve a breakthrough" are correct. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, as they convey a similar meaning.

What does it mean to "make a breakthrough"?

To "make a breakthrough" means to achieve a sudden, significant advancement or discovery that overcomes previous limitations or obstacles in a particular field or endeavor.