milestone

USAGE SUMMARY

"milestone" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to an important event or stage in the development or progress of something. For example: The successful launch of the new product was a major milestone for the company.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

CEO: Rex Tillerson Reported pay*: $33m Big capex milestone: Kara Sea, Russian Arctic After months of drilling around the clock through the short Arctic summer, Exxon Mobil and their Russian partners Rosneft struck oil last year.

The Guardian

CEO: John Watson Reported pay*: $26m Big capex milestone: Jack/St Malo, US Gulf of Mexico The Jack/St Malo project has taken Chevron to one of the deepest and most remote parts of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Guardian

He told the Lowy Institute the milestone was proof the west's diplomatic pressure and sanctions against Russia – which is backing separatist rebels in the east – were bearing fruit.

The Guardian

But this is exactly what happened this week and it marks a significant, historic milestone on Ireland's journey away from being a mono-Catholic state into a 21st European republic.

The Guardian

The Yankees outfielder looked exactly like himself against the Blue Jays, using that patented swing to drive an RA Dickey pitch into left field and become just the third player in history to reach the 4,000-hit 4,000-hit, Ty Cobb and Pete Rose being the others.

The Guardian - Sport

Could our need to capture every milestone stop us from living in the moment and ever feeling content?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Guardian has passed yet another digital traffic milestone, with over 120 million monthly unique browsers accessing theguardian.com in January 2015, according to the latest digital ABC figures released today.

The Guardian

"This is the first major milestone for the project and marks a very clear intent to create a new landmark for London," said the trust's chair, Lord Davies.

The Guardian

In the UK that milestone has only just been reached.

The Guardian - Business

CEO: Bob Dudley Reported pay*: $15m Big capital expenditure (capex) milestone: Sunrise, Canada In late 2014, four years after facing intense shareholder resistance over its move into Canada's vast and environmentally controversial tar sands, operations began at BP's $2.5bn Sunrise project.

The Guardian

CEO: Christophe de Margerie (until October 2014) Reported pay*: $6m Big capex milestone: Kashagan, Kazakhstan Production at Kashagan – one of the world's most expensive and complex oil projects – is on hold.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "milestone", ensure it clearly represents a significant achievement or turning point in a process, project, or life event. Be specific about why the event is considered a "milestone".

Common error

Avoid using "milestone" for every minor achievement; reserve it for truly significant progress points. Overuse can dilute its impact and make your writing sound less credible.

Linguistic Context

The word "milestone" functions primarily as a noun, denoting a significant event or stage in a process or project. As evidenced by Ludwig examples, it often describes achievements or turning points. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "milestone" is a commonly used noun that refers to a significant event or stage in a process or project. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and widely used across different domains, particularly in news, business, and formal contexts. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its function in highlighting progress and achievements. Related phrases include "significant achievement", "key event", and "turning point", which capture slightly different nuances of the term's meaning. While a valuable term, it's important to reserve "milestone" for truly significant progress points to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Landmark event

Similar to milestone, but often refers to events of historical significance.

Significant achievement

Focuses on the accomplishment aspect rather than the specific point in time.

Notable accomplishment

Highlights the success aspect of the event.

Key event

Highlights the importance of the occurrence, omitting the progress aspect.

Turning point

Emphasizes a change in direction or outcome.

Significant step

Emphasizes the progress made.

Important stage

Stresses the phase of development or progress.

Pivotal moment

Highlights the importance of a particular point in time.

Critical juncture

Suggests a decisive moment with significant consequences.

Benchmark

Focuses on serving as a standard or point of reference.

FAQs

How to use "milestone" in a sentence?

You can use "milestone" to describe a significant achievement or event. For example, "The product launch was a major milestone for the company."

What can I say instead of "milestone"?

You can use alternatives like "significant achievement", "key event", or "turning point" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "milestone" or "mile stone"?

"Milestone" is the correct spelling. "Mile stone" (two words) is less common and generally refers to a literal stone marker indicating distances.

What's the difference between "milestone" and "landmark"?

While both terms denote significant points, "milestone" typically refers to a point in a process or journey, while "landmark" often refers to a historically important event or a prominent feature of a landscape.