break new ground
break new ground · breaks new ground · broke new ground · broken new ground · breaking new ground
To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building, or, originally, for…To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building, or, originally, for cultivation.
» We hope to break new ground.
CM · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
2 senses(literally)To begin excavating and levelling earth for a new building, or, originally, for cultivation.
(broadly)To initiate a new venture, especially something never before attempted; to advance or innovate.
Examples
6 sentencesWe hope to break new ground.
The building was completed nine months after breaking ground.
His designs have broken new ground but his wife doesn't know it.
That's breaking new ground.
A pick is a long handled tool used for breaking up hard ground surfaces.
Translations
3 languagesForms
breaks new ground, breaking new ground, broke new ground, broken new ground| Base form | break new ground · to break new ground |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | breaks new ground |
| Present participle | breaking new ground |
| Past simple | broke new ground |
| Past participle | broken new ground |
irregular · Lesson
Word family
1 related wordsRelatedbreak ground
Lessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle