leapfrog

1 of 2

noun

leap·​frog ˈlēp-ˌfrȯg 

-ˌfräg

: a game in which one player bends down and is vaulted over by another player

leapfrog

2 of 2

verb

leapfrogged; leapfrogging

intransitive verb

: to leap or progress in or as if in leapfrog

transitive verb

1

: to go ahead of (each other) in turn

specifically : to advance (two military units) by keeping one unit in action while moving the other unit past it to a position farther in front

2

: to evade by or as if by a bypass

Examples of leapfrog in a Sentence

Verb

Skipping his last two years of high school, he leapfrogged his classmates and went to college.

This year's technologies are leapfrogging last year's designs.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While that was happening, Altman explored another acquisition that would help OpenAI leapfrog ahead—buying the AI coding startup Windsurf for $3 billion. —Maxwell Zeff, Wired News, 11 Mar. 2026

State media described the next 10 to 20 years as a window for leapfrog development in interstellar navigation. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Feb. 2026

Verb

This loss means Vegas and Anaheim both have the opportunity this weekend to leapfrog the two-time defending conference champions for the top spot in the Pacific Division. —ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026

The Knicks need Joe Mazzulla’s squad to lose each game to leapfrog them in the standings. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1872, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for leapfrog

• agog
• backlog
• bulldog
• bullfrog
• eclogue
• eggnog
• groundhog
• hedgehog
• prolog
• sheepdog
• watchdog
• analog

Kids Definition

leapfrog

noun

leap·​frog

ˈlēp-ˌfrȯg, 

-ˌfräg

: a game in which the first player bends down and another leaps over