broke new ground
Created something original
Broke new ground means to do something innovative or unprecedented—to venture into territory no one has explored before.
The metaphor comes from breaking soil for construction or farming, preparing land that was previously untouched.
Her research broke new ground in cancer treatment.
The album broke new ground by blending jazz with electronic music.
- digUnearth by shoveling
- innovativeIntroducing new ideas
- trailblazingBeing the first through
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- paved the wayMade future progress possible
revolutionary · ahead of its time · earth · forge · unprecedented · blaze · paradigm shift · seminal · creative · uncharted · uncharted territory · breakthrough · original · carve · inventive · visionary · plow · terra incognita
broke new groundimitated
Reproduced another's behavior
derivative · unoriginal · rehashed · played it safe · toed the line
broke new groundstagnated
Ceased all forward movement
stood still · lost ground · regressed · fell behind · treaded water
broke, ground, breaks, breaking, broken, breaker, breakage, newer, newest