quantum leap
noun
plural quantum leaps
: an abrupt change, sudden increase, or dramatic advance
Note: Quantum leap is rarely used in scientific contexts, but it originated as a synonym of quantum jump, which describes an abrupt transition (as of an electron, an atom, or a molecule) from one discrete energy state to another.
Examples of quantum leap in a Sentence
Prices have taken a quantum leap upward.
The new drug is a quantum leap in the fight against cancer.
Recent Examples on the Web
If the 348 was one of the few forgettable Ferraris, its successor knocked it out of the park with peerless styling, an exotic five-valve-per-cylinder V-8, and a quantum leap in performance.
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Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
From Text Readers to Hypertext Users The quantum leap from linear traditional text to hypertext has a series of far-reaching consequences related to hypertext’s multilinear, multiauthored, and multimodal character.
—Carmen Daniela Maier, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
While some commenters were critical, the quality of the video represented a quantum leap forward from the famously crude early AI videos depicting Will Smith eating spaghetti.
—David Scarpa, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Chicago may be taking another quantum leap forward in its technology aspirations.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quantum leap
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Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 17 June 2026
From Text Readers to Hypertext Users The quantum leap from linear traditional text to hypertext has a series of far-reaching consequences related to hypertext’s multilinear, multiauthored, and multimodal character.
—Carmen Daniela Maier, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
While some commenters were critical, the quality of the video represented a quantum leap forward from the famously crude early AI videos depicting Will Smith eating spaghetti.
—David Scarpa, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026
Chicago may be taking another quantum leap forward in its technology aspirations.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for quantum leap
Cite this Entry
“Quantum leap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quantum%20leap. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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