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
Systems measure the current atmospheric conditions to find the right altitude and speed at which aircraft can break the sound barrier without being heard below.
—
Marisa Garcia, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
That ban was implemented more than 50 years ago in 1973, over public complaints about the incredibly loud noise made by these planes, which broke the sound barrier while flying at speeds of over 1,500 mph.
—New Atlas, 9 June 2025
The sonic boom is caused by the rocket dropping below supersonic speeds, rather than breaking the sound barrier via acceleration.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Not just because passenger planes capable of breaking the sound barrier are in development — for the first time ever, they could be allowed to do it over American soil.
—Edward Russell, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The vehicle flew for about half a minute and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier.
—ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
With their ability to fly at speeds in excess of five times the speed of sound, hypersonic missiles have the potential to revolutionize warfare in a way not seen since the sound barrier was cracked in 1947.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
While the speed at which artificial intelligence (A.I.) is pervading mainstream society could seemingly break the sound barrier, aviation authorities are taking a slower, more cautious approach to its potential applications in the cockpit.
—Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025
In his foreword, H. Lawrence Culp Jr, chairman and chief executive of General Electric, quotes approvingly another psychologist, Michael Gervais, who coached Felix Baumgartner, who in 2012 became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier in a jump that began 24 miles above the Earth’s surface.
—Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
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Marisa Garcia, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
That ban was implemented more than 50 years ago in 1973, over public complaints about the incredibly loud noise made by these planes, which broke the sound barrier while flying at speeds of over 1,500 mph.
—New Atlas, 9 June 2025
The sonic boom is caused by the rocket dropping below supersonic speeds, rather than breaking the sound barrier via acceleration.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Not just because passenger planes capable of breaking the sound barrier are in development — for the first time ever, they could be allowed to do it over American soil.
—Edward Russell, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
The vehicle flew for about half a minute and, as planned, did not break the sound barrier.
—ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
With their ability to fly at speeds in excess of five times the speed of sound, hypersonic missiles have the potential to revolutionize warfare in a way not seen since the sound barrier was cracked in 1947.
—New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025
While the speed at which artificial intelligence (A.I.) is pervading mainstream society could seemingly break the sound barrier, aviation authorities are taking a slower, more cautious approach to its potential applications in the cockpit.
—Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 16 Feb. 2025
In his foreword, H. Lawrence Culp Jr, chairman and chief executive of General Electric, quotes approvingly another psychologist, Michael Gervais, who coached Felix Baumgartner, who in 2012 became the first skydiver to break the sound barrier in a jump that began 24 miles above the Earth’s surface.
—Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“The sound barrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sound%20barrier. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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