milepost
/ˈmaɪlpəʊst/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmaɪlpəʊst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmī(-ə)l-ˌpōst/ (ame, mw)
milepost — noun
- milepostsingular
- milepostsplural
1. a physical marker, usually a post or stone block, placed beside a road, path, or
a physical marker, usually a post or stone block, placed beside a road, path, or river that shows the distance in miles to a particular place or how far a traveller has travelled along a route.
A weathered milepost on the old highway read '42 miles to Exeter'.
milepost + read/shows + [distance]
The hiking trail had a stone milepost every mile to guide lost walkers.
Thiago stopped at the milepost to check how far they still had to walk.
According to the milepost, the group had covered eighteen miles that day.
Volunteers cleaned the moss off the old milepost and repainted its markings.
文法句型
the milepost + shows/reads/indicates + [distance]
at the milepost
用法筆記
The literal milepost is less common today because modern roads use metal signs rather than stone or wooden posts. You are most likely to see historic stone mileposts beside old roads in the United Kingdom or on preserved hiking trails.
常見錯誤
2. an important event or achievement that represents a clear stage of progress in t
an important event or achievement that represents a clear stage of progress in the development of something — for example, a scientific discovery, a company milestone, or a personal life goal that marks how far you have come.
The signing of the peace agreement was a milepost in the region's history.
milepost + in + [domain such as history]
Graduating from university was a significant milepost in Mei-Lin's career.
possessive + milepost + in + [person's domain]
The company's first million users became a milepost of its early growth.
Historians view the discovery as a milepost in the history of medicine.
- milestone
far more common than milepost for this figurative meaning; milepost is a less frequent alternative
- landmark
emphasises recognisability and importance, not necessarily a stage of progress
- turning point
focuses on a change of direction rather than steady forward progress
- setback
an event that halts or reverses progress, the opposite of a milepost
- regression
a return to an earlier, less advanced state
文法句型
a milepost + in + [domain/field]
a milepost + of + [achievement]
用法筆記
Milepost is less common than milestone in figurative use. In both American and British English, milestone is the everyday word; milepost sounds more literary or formal and may surprise readers who expect milestone. It is not grammatically wrong to use milepost in this way, but choosing milestone instead will sound more natural to most readers.