leap

[ leep ]

verb (used without object)

, leaped or leapt [lept, leept], leap·ing.

1. to spring through the air from one point or position to another; jump:

   to leap over a ditch.

   Synonyms: bound

2. to move or act quickly or suddenly:

   to leap aside; She leaped at the opportunity.

3. to pass, come, rise, etc., as if with a jump:

   to leap to a conclusion; an idea that immediately leaped to mind.

verb (used with object)

, leaped or leapt [lept, leept], leap·ing.

1. to jump over:

   to leap a fence.

2. to pass over as if by a jump.
3. to cause to leap:

   to leap a horse.

noun

1. a spring, jump, or bound; a light, springing movement.
2. the distance covered in a leap; distance jumped.
3. a place leaped or to be leaped over or from.
4. a sudden or abrupt transition:

   a successful leap from piano class to concert hall.

5. a sudden and decisive increase:

   a leap in the company's profits.

leap

/ liːp /

verb

1. intr to jump suddenly from one place to another
2. introften foll byat to move or react quickly
3. tr to jump over
4. to come into prominence rapidly

   the thought leapt into his mind

5. tr to cause (an animal, esp a horse) to jump a barrier

noun

1. the act of jumping
2. a spot from which a leap was or may be made
3. the distance of a leap
4. an abrupt change or increase
5. Also called (US and Canadian)skip music a relatively large melodic interval, esp in a solo part
6. a leap in the dark
   an action performed without knowledge of the consequences
7. by leaps and bounds
   with unexpectedly rapid progress

Derived Forms

• ˈleaper, noun

Other Words From

• leaper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of leap¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lepen, Old English hlēapan “to leap, run”; cognate with German laufen, Old Norse hlaupa, Gothic hlaupan

Word History and Origins

Origin of leap¹

Old English hlēapan; related to Gothic hlaupan, German laufen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by leaps and bounds, very rapidly:

   We are progressing by leaps and bounds.

2. leap in the dark, an action of which the consequences are unknown:

   The experiment was a leap in the dark.

3. leap of faith, an act or instance of accepting or trusting in something that cannot readily be seen or proved.

More idioms and phrases containing leap

• by leaps and bounds
• look before you leap
• quantum leap
• jump

Synonym Study

See jump.

Example Sentences

“This is a major milestone that marks a great leap in understanding of the human body,” said Dr Sarah Teichmann, from the University of Cambridge and one of the founders of the Human Cell Atlas.

From BBC

“Constitutional provisions don’t just leap into action,” Binder noted.

From Salon

As news of Shklyarov’s death broke Saturday, the ballet world mourned the dancer who impressed with his gravity-defying leaps and charming stage presence.

From Los Angeles Times

TV presenter Davina McCall is out of intensive care and has made an "enormous leap forward" in the last 24 hours, following her surgery to remove a rare brain tumour.

From BBC

It’s a subtle visual leap across vast space.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ascend
• bounce
• bound
• hop
• rise
• rocket
• skip
• soar
• surge
• vault

More About Leap

What does leap mean?

To leap means to spring or jump from one point to another, as in Sophie leaped over the hole to avoid falling in. A leap is such a jump.

To leap also means to move or act suddenly, as in Santiago leapt out of the way of the dogs running toward him. This action, too, is a leap.

We use leap figuratively, as well. For example, we might call new software a leap forward in technology or say that a new band has leapt to the top of the charts. People often also leap to conclusions—that is, they make conclusions without hearing all the facts first. They are figuratively jumping over the facts to the conclusion.

We can use leap and jump to mean the same things, but there is a bit of a difference. In a leap, the place you land is different from the place you started, while a jump can be straight up and straight back down.

Leap appears in a few different idioms. If you’re doing something by leaps and bounds, it means you’re progressing quickly. A leap in the dark is an action with unknown consequences. A leap of faith is trusting in something that cannot be seen or proven. You might also say that your heart leapt into your throat, referring to the sensation in your throat when something scary happens.

The past tense of leap can be either leaped or leapt.

Example: The movable-type printing press was a great leap forward in technology.

Where does leap come from?

The first records of the term leap come from before the year 900. It comes from the Old English word hlēapan, meaning “to leap or run.”

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to leap?

• leaper (noun)

What are some synonyms for leap?

• jump
• surge
• bound
• hop
• vault

What are some words that share a root or word element with leap?

• leapling
• leapfrog
• leap day

What are some words that often get used in discussing leap?

• air
• forward
• conclusion
• faith

How is leap used in real life?

Leap is a common word used to describe a physical or figurative jump.

When I wrote this book, I had one goal in mind- to help beginners in Content Writing know where to start from.

This book is a quick resource for beginners in Content Writing willing to take a leap and stay on track.

To get a copy:https://t.co/heDa6rd0DN

Kindly retweet 💙 pic.twitter.com/Qd4tauGxsf

— Dr. TeeFaith (@teefaithy) November 4, 2020

Ride into the hunt with fierce companions! Palamutes will leap into battle and take the role of active fighters. #MHRise pic.twitter.com/HOYGRVzZ6M

— Monster Hunter (@monsterhunter) November 2, 2020

pisces cancer scorpio
what you need to hear:

you’re approaching a new cycle— you will be free to do whatever you have planned- someone could be taking a leap of faith towards you – this person may have been very commitment phobic in the past or vice versa- if life has been- pic.twitter.com/2Brii9Xph9

— enatheory // (@theenatheory) November 4, 2020

Try using leap!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of leap?

A. bound
B. jump
C. decline
D. vault