the sound barrier
noun
: the large increase in air resistance that occurs as an aircraft nears the speed of sound and that was once an obstacle to traveling faster than the speed of sound
a plane that is able to break the sound barrier
Examples of the sound barrier in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This flight took place in what might be considered hallowed airspace, as the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California is also the location where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947.
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New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2024
Local media are reporting that the sound may have been jets breaking the sound barrier.
—NBC News, 5 Oct. 2024
In 1969: The French Concorde 001 broke the sound barrier and went on to become the first commercial supersonic aircraft, flying passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound for more than two decades.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 1 Oct. 2024
Israeli warplanes flew low over Beirut while Nasrallah spoke and broke the sound barrier, scattering birds and prompting people in houses and offices to quickly open windows to prevent them from shattering.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 20 Sep. 2024
In his speech last month, for example, Nasrallah referenced two sonic booms caused by Israeli jets that had broken the sound barrier over Beirut.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024
Fireworks that lit up the night sky in the days leading up to Israel’s attack in southern Beirut have given way to sonic booms produced by Israeli jets breaking the sound barrier overhead, shaking windows and keeping frightened Lebanese families at home.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024
As Hezbollah members gathered to hear leader Hassan Nasrallah memorialize Shukr on Tuesday, Israeli jets broke the sound barrier over Beirut, sending people scattering and rushing to open their windows to keep them from shattering.
—Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2024
Even better is that once you’re done trying to break the sound barrier, you will be whisked along in near-silence, coddled in the finest Italian leather, and enjoying your Sonus Faber stereo system.
—Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 29 July 2024
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New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2024
Local media are reporting that the sound may have been jets breaking the sound barrier.
—NBC News, 5 Oct. 2024
In 1969: The French Concorde 001 broke the sound barrier and went on to become the first commercial supersonic aircraft, flying passengers across the Atlantic at twice the speed of sound for more than two decades.
—Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 1 Oct. 2024
Israeli warplanes flew low over Beirut while Nasrallah spoke and broke the sound barrier, scattering birds and prompting people in houses and offices to quickly open windows to prevent them from shattering.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 20 Sep. 2024
In his speech last month, for example, Nasrallah referenced two sonic booms caused by Israeli jets that had broken the sound barrier over Beirut.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024
Fireworks that lit up the night sky in the days leading up to Israel’s attack in southern Beirut have given way to sonic booms produced by Israeli jets breaking the sound barrier overhead, shaking windows and keeping frightened Lebanese families at home.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024
As Hezbollah members gathered to hear leader Hassan Nasrallah memorialize Shukr on Tuesday, Israeli jets broke the sound barrier over Beirut, sending people scattering and rushing to open their windows to keep them from shattering.
—Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2024
Even better is that once you’re done trying to break the sound barrier, you will be whisked along in near-silence, coddled in the finest Italian leather, and enjoying your Sonus Faber stereo system.
—Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 29 July 2024
Dictionary Entries Near the sound barrier
Cite this Entry
“The sound barrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sound%20barrier. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
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