break new ground
Meaning
To do something innovative or pioneering; to explore or develop an area that hasn’t been tried before.
Origin
From agriculture: literally breaking (plowing) untouched soil to make it usable. The image became a metaphor for pioneering work and first-time achievements.
Notes
Positive, often praising a pioneering effort. Implies novelty and leadership. Common in research, tech, business, and arts; fairly formal. Can also be literal about farming.
Examples
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Her research broke new ground in early cancer detection.
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The startup is breaking new ground with battery technology that charges in minutes.
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By combining jazz and classical, the composer broke new ground in modern music.
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The judge’s ruling broke new ground and changed how privacy laws are applied.
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The museum’s latest exhibit breaks new ground in interactive storytelling.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Verb phrase: break new ground. Tense/person inflects (break/broke/broken). Usually with a subject doing the pioneering; often followed by in/with/on + field/topic. Article is fixed as “new ground.”
Synonyms
- pioneer
- blaze a trail
- forge a path
- strike out into new territory
- push the envelope
Antonyms
- stick to the status quo
- tread water
- follow in someone’s footsteps
- retrace old steps