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Definition of groundbreaking

groundbreaking

/ˈɡraʊndˌbreɪ.kɪŋ/
ground · break · ing
Plural:groundbreakings
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groundbreaking Lexical Profile

groundbreaking Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Innovative, pioneering, or introducing completely new ideas or methods.

Example

"The scientist received international acclaim for her groundbreaking research on renewable energy."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

The act or ceremony of breaking the ground to mark the official start of a construction project.

Example

"Local officials gathered with golden shovels for the groundbreaking of the new community library."

• Nearby Words

ground skink
ground snake
groundbreaker
groundbreaking
groundcover
grounded
groundedness

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the late 19th century as a compound of 'ground' and 'breaking', originally referring to the literal act of turning the first soil for a construction project before evolving metaphorically to describe pioneering work.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Groundbreaking. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/groundbreaking
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