milestone

noun

mile·​stone ˈmī(-ə)l-ˌstōn 

1

: a stone serving as a milepost (see milepost sense 1)

2

: a significant point in development

Graduating from college was an important milestone in her life.

Illustration of milestone

• milestone 1

Synonyms

• climacteric
• climax
• corner
• landmark
• milepost
• turning point
• watershed

Examples of milestone in a Sentence

the new drug was regarded as a milestone in the treatment of heart disease

Recent Examples on the Web

The company entered a settlement agreement with Pivot Holding LLC, agreeing to pay $500,000 for milestone payments under a collaboration agreement. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

The addition of Discover marks a significant milestone in LabX’s mission to inspire, educate, and engage audiences in the dynamic world of science. —Discover Staff, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024

Last week, Simpson shared another photo on a plane when announcing a major milestone. —Erin Clements, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

The new law marked a significant milestone in Tennessee whiskey history and allowed the team to launch the distillery. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

milestone

noun

mile·​stone ˈmī(ə)l-ˌstōn 

1

: a milepost made of stone

2

: an important point in progress or development