milestone

American  

[mahyl-stohn] / ˈmaɪlˌstoʊn /

noun

1. a stone functioning as a milepost.

2. a significant event or stage in the life, progress, development, or the like of a person, nation, etc..

   Her getting the job of supervisor was a milestone in her career.

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milestone British  

/ ˈmaɪlˌstəʊn /

noun

1. a stone pillar that shows the distance in miles to or from a place

2. a significant event in life, history, etc

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Etymology

Origin of milestone

First recorded in 1740–50; mile + stone

Example Sentences

"This is a historic milestone which acknowledges the vital place these languages hold in Scotland's culture and heritage."

From BBC

But she is now hitting her developmental milestones.

From BBC

This approach is apparent even among those who haven’t yet hit adulthood, with some teens who set up portfolios already saving for financial milestones such as buying a home.

From The Wall Street Journal

But for now, here are 10 milestones in the history of the office worker’s wardrobe.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Golden Globe nominations, arguably the first major milestone of awards season, will give some indication of which films have momentum when they are announced on 8 December.

From BBC

Related Words

• anniversary
• breakthrough
• discovery
• event
• landmark
• occasion
• turning point