groundbreaking
Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡrˈaʊndbreɪkɪŋ/
US
- /ˈɡraʊnˌbreɪkɪŋ/
- /ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪkɪŋ/
Description
- innovative
- revolutionary
- pioneering
Something groundbreaking is not just new - it changes the way people think or work. Think of the first airplane: it opened up possibilities people had never imagined before. A groundbreaking discovery in medicine might lead to a cure for a disease, and a groundbreaking artist might inspire a whole new style. The idea is simple: it goes beyond ordinary progress and leaves a real mark.
The word groundbreaking describes something so innovative or revolutionary that it marks a major turning point - a moment when things change in a lasting way. The image behind the word is strong: imagine breaking ground to begin building something entirely new. It is more than simple improvement; it suggests a new foundation and a new direction.
You often hear groundbreaking used in science and technology. A groundbreaking study might reveal a truth about the universe that people did not understand before. In art, a groundbreaking film could change the way stories are told. In social movements, a groundbreaking legal decision can help remove old injustices.
However, something does not have to be huge to be groundbreaking. A small local project that solves a community problem in a new way can also be groundbreaking if it gives others a model to follow.
The term implies lasting influence and a clear break from the usual way of doing things. It suggests an idea, invention, or achievement that people will remember as an important moment that shaped what came next. So when you describe something as groundbreaking, you are saying it is not just different - it changes the path forward.
Examples
- 1
Medical research
The scientist won an award for her groundbreaking research on Alzheimer’s disease.
- 2
Pop music
Their first album was groundbreaking and changed the sound of pop music in the 1990s.
- 3
Digital privacy
The court’s decision was seen as a groundbreaking step for digital privacy.
- 4
Software history
The software may look basic now, but it was groundbreaking when it first came out.
- 5
Construction ceremony
City officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new bridge.
Phrase
groundbreaking ceremony
an event to mark the start of building work
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- groundbreakingnounadjective