groundbreaking

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈgraʊˌndbreɪkɪŋ/

📖 Definitions

  1. adjective
    Innovative; introducing new ideas, methods, or discoveries that have never been done or seen before; pioneering.; Relating to or marking the beginning of a new project, especially the ceremonial first digging of earth for a new building or construction.
  2. noun
    The ceremonial act of breaking ground to begin construction of a building or other structure.; The act of breaking or turning over the soil, as in agriculture or excavation.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: groundbreakings Comparative: more groundbreaking Superlative: most groundbreaking

Collocations

groundbreaking researchgroundbreaking discoverygroundbreaking ceremonygroundbreaking workgroundbreaking studygroundbreaking technology

Derivatives

groundbreakergroundbreak

Synonyms

innovativepioneeringrevolutionarytrailblazingnoveloriginal

Antonyms

conventionaltraditionalunoriginalderivative

Commonly confused

ground-breaking
EN: Hyphenated variant with identical meaning; the one-word form 'groundbreaking' is more common in modern usage.
ground breaking
EN: Two-word form is non-standard; use 'groundbreaking' (adjective/noun) or 'break ground' (verb phrase).

Spelling tips

EN: Can be written as 'ground-breaking' (hyphenated) or 'groundbreaking' (one word); both are acceptable, but the closed compound is preferred in contemporary English. Do not write it as two separate words.

💬 Examples

  1. The scientist made a groundbreaking discovery that changed our understanding of genetics.

  2. The mayor attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital.

  3. The groundbreaking of the new stadium attracted thousands of spectators.

  4. The groundbreaking for the foundation took several days to complete.