milestone

[ˈmaɪlstəʊn]

milestone Definition

  • 1a significant event or stage in the life, progress, development, or history of a person, nation, etc.
  • 2a stone set up beside a road to mark the distance in miles between places

Using milestone: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "milestone" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    Graduating from college was a major milestone in her life.

  • Example

    The discovery of DNA was a milestone in the history of science.

  • Example

    The company reached a milestone by selling one million units of their product.

  • Example

    The construction of the bridge was a milestone in the development of the city.

milestone Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for milestone

Antonyms for milestone

Idioms Using milestone

  • to reach or achieve an important goal or stage in one's life or work

    Example

    The company hit a milestone by reaching one million subscribers.

  • to move past or leave behind an important stage or event in one's life or work

    Example

    Now that she's graduated, she can put college behind her and focus on her career.

  • milestone around one's neck

    something that is a burden or hindrance to one's progress or success

    Example

    His debt was like a milestone around his neck, preventing him from achieving his goals.

Phrases with milestone

  • to achieve an important goal or stage in one's life or work

    Example

    The company reached a milestone by selling one million units of their product.

  • to reach or go beyond an important stage or event in one's life or work

    Example

    She passed a milestone when she received her first promotion at work.

  • a birthday that marks a significant age, such as 18, 21, 30, 40, 50, etc.

    Example

    Her 30th birthday was a milestone birthday, so we threw her a big party.

Origins of milestone

from 'mile' + 'stone', referring to a stone used to mark the distance of a mile on a road

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Summary: milestone in Brief

A 'milestone' [ˈmaɪlstəʊn] refers to a significant event or stage in the life, progress, development, or history of a person, nation, etc. It can also refer to a stone set up beside a road to mark the distance in miles between places. Examples include graduating from college, discovering DNA, and selling one million units of a product. Phrases like 'reach a milestone' and 'milestone birthday' are common, while idioms like 'hit a milestone' and 'put a milestone behind you' are also used.

How do native speakers use this expression?