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

Gathered together for the milestone was the entire cast led by Tony nominee Robyn Hurder, who is playing Ivy Lynn, the character Megan Hilty made famous on screen. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025

Keep track of your major accomplishments and milestones to reference during performance reviews, and continually communicate your achievements. —Jack Kelly, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

Robbie Williams has secured a huge milestone on the U.K. Album Charts. —Thomas Smith, Billboard, 24 Jan. 2025

To mark the milestone, The New Yorker is digitizing its full archive, opening new pathways into a hundred years of great reporting, Profiles, fiction, and humor. —The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025

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