milestone
MILE-stohn
/ˈmaɪl.stəʊn/
A significant stage or event in the development of something.
A milestone is a marker of progress, not just a random task; it usually signifies the completion of a major phase.
The story behind the word. In Ancient Rome, 'miliaria' were stone pillars placed every mile along roads to tell travelers how far they had come and how far they had to go. We now use the term for metaphorical journeys.
Word relationships
- landmark: A landmark is a physical object or a highly visible event; a milestone is specifically a marker of progress along a journey.
- setback: A setback is a reversal of progress, while a milestone is a confirmation of it.
Commonly confused with
- goal: A goal is the final destination; a milestone is a marker you pass on the way to that goal.
Collocations
- reach a milestone
- major milestone
- project milestone
- key milestone
Idioms & expressions
- turning point
Example sentences
- "Reaching 1,000 users was a major milestone for our startup." Project Management
- "Graduating from college is a significant milestone in anyone's life." Personal Development
Memory hook
Imagine walking a long road and seeing a big stone that says 'Mile 10'—it shows you've made real progress. A marker of progress.
When not to use
Don't use it for small, daily tasks; 'answering an email' is not a milestone.
Fun facts
- The 'Golden Milestone' (Miliarium Aureum) was a monument in the Roman Forum from which all roads were said to begin.
Related words
Explore more words
timeline, landmark, watershed, breakthrough, incremental, make progress
Also appears in
- Leadership → Strategic Planning
- Business → Project Management
- Business → Performance Evaluation
- Psychology → Developmental Stages & Maturation
- Education & Pedagogy → Early Childhood Education
- Health Sciences → Pediatrics & Child Health
- Psychology → Child & Adolescent Development
- Home & Domestic Life → Parenting & Childcare
- Occasions, Holidays & Parties → Birthdays & Aging
- Romance, Dating & Marriage → Honeymoons & Anniversaries
- Occasions, Holidays & Parties → Baby Showers & Gender Reveals
- Occasions, Holidays & Parties → Retirement Celebrations
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