breakthrough

A breakthrough is an important moment when someone finally solves a difficult problem or achieves something they've been working hard for. It's like reaching a milestone after weeks of struggling.

When we talk about a breakthrough, we often mean that someone has overcome a big obstacle and made progress in their work or research. For example, imagine you're trying to invent a new kind of medicine, but you keep hitting roadblocks. Finally, after years of trial and error, you discover the secret ingredient that makes it work. That's a breakthrough! Or maybe you're trying to fix a difficult problem at your job, but you can't seem to find the solution. Suddenly, someone suggests an innovative approach that solves everything – that's another breakthrough.

Breakthrough can also be used more figuratively to describe any major change or discovery in life, not just related to work or science. For instance, if you finally decide to leave a job you hate and start your own business, that could be called a personal breakthrough. The word is often used in phrases like "breakthrough moment" or "a turning point", which implies that something significant happened and now things will never be the same again.