break through
2 meanings
succeed or make an important discovery after a lot of effort
What does "break through" mean in this sense?
Examples
- Scientists have finally broken through in the search for an Alzheimer's treatment.
- She broke through in the music industry after years of performing in small venues.
- Do you think researchers will ever break through and find a cure for this disease?
How to use it
The core intransitive pattern — no direct object follows 'through'. The field or area of achievement is added with a prepositional phrase if needed.
After a decade of failed experiments, the team finally broke through.
Use 'in' followed by a domain or field to specify where the breakthrough happened.
Researchers hope to break through in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections.
Use 'with' to introduce the discovery or achievement that represents the breakthrough.
The pharmaceutical company broke through with a vaccine that had been in development for years.
Adverbs of persistence and time commonly appear with this phrasal verb, emphasising the difficulty that preceded the success.
She had been writing songs for fifteen years before she finally broke through.
Modal and semi-modal expressions used with the infinitive reflect the effort involved in achieving success.
Many talented engineers struggle to break through in an industry dominated by large corporations.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
Because 'break through' is intransitive in this sense, you cannot place a noun or pronoun directly after 'through' as an object. To specify an area, use a prepositional phrase with 'in' or 'with' instead.
'Break into' describes entering a new field or market for the first time, while 'break through' describes making a significant advance or discovery after sustained difficulty. They are not interchangeable.
It sounds unnatural to say someone 'is breaking through' to describe a prolonged struggle. Use the present perfect or past simple to describe the achievement, and expressions like 'trying to break through' for the ongoing effort.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works well in both written and spoken English. Note that the related noun 'breakthrough' (one word) is extremely common and often more natural than the verb form in headlines and formal writing.
force your way through something blocking you
Sense 2: What does "break through sth" mean?
Examples
- Protesters broke through the police barriers and entered the restricted area.
- After months of trying, the research team has finally broken through the key obstacle.
- The soldiers were attempting to break through the enemy's defences when reinforcements arrived.
How to use it
The most common pattern: the object (the barrier) always follows 'through' and cannot be moved.
The protesters managed to break through the security cordon before police could respond.
When the obstacle is already clear from context, 'break through' can be used without an object — this is very natural, especially in news and military contexts.
The defending team held firm for most of the match, but the opponents finally broke through in the last ten minutes.
Pronouns always follow 'through', just like full noun phrases — never between 'break' and 'through'.
The checkpoint was heavily guarded, but the convoy managed to break through it before dawn.
Because breaking through implies effort and resistance, it frequently follows verbs that express attempt or success.
The negotiators tried for weeks to break through the layers of bureaucracy blocking the deal.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Break through' is inseparable — the object must always come after 'through', never between 'break' and 'through'. This is one of the most common errors with this verb.
'Break down' focuses on a barrier being destroyed or collapsing, while 'break through' focuses on passing beyond it to reach the other side. If the barrier is still standing but you've crossed it, use 'break through'.
Passive constructions with 'break through' are very awkward in English because 'through' works as a directional word rather than a standard object marker. It's almost always better to rewrite with an active subject.
Usage
Break through is neutral in register and appears frequently in news and military contexts. It can be used figuratively to describe overcoming abstract obstacles, such as 'breaking through a glass ceiling', which is common in business and social commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'break through' be used in the passive, like 'a cure was broken through'?
No — because 'break through' is intransitive (it has no direct object), it cannot be made passive. Instead, you would restructure the sentence around the subject doing the breaking through, for example: 'Researchers finally broke through and found a cure.'
Is 'breakthrough' (one word) the same as 'break through' (two words)?
'Breakthrough' is the noun form and is written as one word — it refers to the significant discovery or achievement itself (e.g. 'a major breakthrough in cancer treatment'). 'Break through' (two words) is the verb. In headlines and formal writing, the noun form is often more natural, so it is worth knowing both.
Does 'break through' always refer to professional or scientific achievements, or can it describe personal success too?
It works well for personal achievements too, as long as the core idea of overcoming prolonged difficulty is present. An athlete breaking through after repeated setbacks, or a student finally mastering a skill after months of struggle, are both natural uses. The key element is sustained effort leading to a significant result.
Can 'break through' describe a moment, or does it only describe a longer process?
It describes the moment of achievement, but it implies that a longer process of effort came before it. The breakthrough itself is a turning point — the instant when prolonged difficulty finally gives way to success. That is why it collocates so naturally with words like 'finally' and 'at last'.
Can 'break through' be used for abstract things, not just physical barriers?
Yes — figurative uses are very common and natural. You can talk about breaking through resistance, limitations, bureaucracy, or even emotional barriers. Phrases like 'break through the glass ceiling' or 'break through your fears' are widely used in business and motivational contexts.
What kinds of things can be the object of 'break through'?
Both physical and abstract things work well. Physical objects include barriers, cordons, checkpoints, walls, defences, and perimeters. Abstract objects include resistance, limitations, layers of bureaucracy, and emotional defences. The key idea is that whatever it is, it was blocking the way.
Does 'break through' always suggest a lot of force or effort?
It usually implies at least some degree of effort or resistance overcome — that's what separates it from a neutral verb like 'pass through'. However, the emphasis can vary: in a military report it might suggest significant force, while in a business context ('we finally broke through the key obstacle') it simply means success after difficulty.
Is 'break through' more common in British or American English?
It's used naturally in both British and American English with no significant regional difference. You'll find it in news reporting, sports commentary, and everyday speech on both sides of the Atlantic.
Can 'break through' describe sunlight or weather coming through something?
Yes — 'break through' is also used literally for natural phenomena, such as sunlight breaking through clouds or warmth breaking through the cold. This is a well-established use and follows the same grammar: the obstacle (the clouds, the cold) comes after 'through'.
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