pioneer
Breaks new ground
A pioneer is someone who goes first into unsettled territory, blazing trails for others to follow.
American history celebrates pioneers who moved westward in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The meaning extends to anyone who opens new fields of endeavor: a pioneer in heart surgery, pioneers of early aviation.
As a verb, to pioneer is to be the first to develop or explore: She pioneered new techniques in gene therapy.
As an adjective, it describes early or groundbreaking efforts: pioneer research, pioneer species in ecology.
Family farm and dwelling
- prairieOpen grassy flatland
- wagonWheeled hauling vehicle
- westwardToward the sunset
- landrushCompetitive claiming of territory
goldrush · territory · expansion · trapper · settler · colonist · sodbuster · farmstead
Organized exploratory journey
- discoveryAct of finding something
- trekArduous overland journey
- unchartedNot yet documented
- pathfinderOne who discovers routes
scout · navigate · wilderness · journey · quest · voyage · forerunner · adventurer
Sudden important advance
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
- disruptiveTending to interrupt order
game-changing · transformative · groundbreaking · first-mover · trendsetter · originator · inventor · creator
Tomorrow trends scholar
- dreamerOne given to fantasies
- idealistPursuer of noble principles
- forward-thinkingAnticipating future needs
- imaginativeAble to conceive new ideas
prophetic · bold · daring · ambitious · unconventional · maverick · radical · utopian
homestead
Family farm and dwelling
landrush · goldrush · territory · expansion · trapper · settler · colonist · sodbuster · farmstead · acreage
expedition
Organized exploratory journey
pathfinder · scout · navigate · wilderness · journey · quest · voyage · forerunner · adventurer · compass
breakthrough
Sudden important advance
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- avant-gardeInnovative cultural pioneers
disruptive · game-changing · transformative · groundbreaking · first-mover · trendsetter · originator · inventor · creator · visionary
futurist
Tomorrow trends scholar
- dreamerOne given to fantasies
- idealistPursuer of noble principles
- forward-thinkingAnticipating future needs
imaginative · prophetic · bold · daring · ambitious · unconventional · maverick · radical · utopian · enterprising
- adventureadventure, quest, quests, exploration, explorers
- Wild Westcowboy, howdy, sheriff, giddyup, lawmen
- frontierfrontier, settlers, settler, homesteaders, homesteads
- inventinvent, devise, create, conceive, come up with
- notable figurespolitical leaders, historical figures, dignitary, luminary, presidents
- originatorsfounder, creator, inventor, innovator, initiator
pioneerfollower
One who supports another
latecomer · last · straggler · laggard · subsequent
pioneerimitator
One who copies others
follower · copycat · ape · mimic · traditionalist
pioneernative
Originating from a place
indigenous · aboriginal · autochthon · aborigine · emigrant
- pioneer lifeEarly settler's rugged existence
- pioneer spiritBoldness of early settlers
- pioneering spiritBoldness to explore uncharted territory
- American pioneersEarly westward settlers
- pioneer womenEarly female settlers
- pioneer wagonCovered cart for settlers