jump

1 of 3

verb

ˈjəmp 

jumped; jumping; jumps

intransitive verb

1

a

: to spring into the air : leap

especially : to spring free from the ground or other base by the muscular action of feet and legs

b

: to move suddenly or involuntarily : start

c

: to move energetically : hustle

d

: to start out or forward : begin

—usually used with off

jump off to a big lead

e

: to move over a position occupied by an opponent's piece in a board game often thereby capturing the piece

f

: to undergo a vertical or lateral displacement owing to improper alignment of the film on a projector mechanism

g

: to go from one sequence of instructions in a computer program to another

2

a

: to move haphazardly or irregularly : shift abruptly

jumped from job to job

b

: to undergo a sudden sharp change in value

prices jumped

c

: to make a hurried judgment

jump to conclusions

d

: to show eagerness

jumped at the chance

e

: to enter eagerly

jump on the bandwagon

f

: to change or abandon employment especially in violation of contract

g

: to rise suddenly in rank or status

h

: to make a jump in bridge

3

: to make a sudden physical or verbal attack

jumped on him for his criticism

4

: to bustle with activity

the restaurant was jumping

5

: coincide, agree

transitive verb

1

a

: to leap over

jump a hurdle

b

: to leap aboard

jump a freight

c

: to act, move, or begin before (something, such as a signal)

jump the green light

d

: to move over (a piece) in a board game

2

a

: to escape from : avoid

b

: to leave hastily or in violation of contract

jump town without paying their bills

—Hamilton Basso

c

: to depart from (a normal course)

jump the track

3

a

: to make a sudden physical or verbal attack on

b

: to occupy illegally

jump a mining claim

4

a(1)

: to cause to leap

(2)

: to cause (game) to break cover : start, flush

b

: to increase suddenly and sharply

c

: to elevate in rank or status

d

: to raise (a bridge partner's bid) by more than one rank

5

obsolete : risk, hazard

jump

2 of 3

noun

1

a(1)

: an act of jumping : leap

(2)

: any of several sports competitions featuring a leap, spring, or bound

(3)

: a leap in figure skating in which the skater leaves the ice with both feet and turns in the air

(4)

: a space cleared or covered by a leap

(5)

: an obstacle to be jumped over or from

b

: a sudden involuntary movement : start

c

: a move made in a board game by jumping

d

: a transfer from one sequence of instructions in a computer program to a different sequence

2

: an advantage at the start

getting the jump on the competition

3

a(1)

: a sharp sudden increase

(2)

: a bid in bridge of more tricks than are necessary to overcall the preceding bid compare shift

b

: an abrupt change or transition

c(1)

: a quick short journey

(2)

: one in a series of moves from one place to another

d

: the portion of a published item (such as a newspaper article or story) that comprises the continuation of an item that begins on a preceding page

4

: jazz music with a fast tempo

5

obsolete : venture

jump

3 of 3

adverb

obsolete

: exactly, pat

Phrases

jump bail

: to abscond after being released from prison on bail

jump ship

1

: to leave the company of a ship without authority

2

: to desert a cause or party especially abruptly

jump the gun

1

: to start in a race before the starting signal

2

: to act, move, or begin something before the proper time

jump the queue

British : to advance directly to or as if to the head of a line

jump the shark

: to undergo a significant change for the worse that marks the point at which a period of success ends (as for a TV series)

Did you know?

Where did jump the shark come from?

When something jumps the shark it undergoes a significant change for the worse and is on a new trajectory of unrecoverable decline. The happy days of its golden age are over.

The origin of the phrase jump the shark is tucked neatly in that previous sentence: it comes from a 1977 episode of the American TV series “Happy Days” (1974–1984) in which the program's most popular character, Fonzie, jumps over a shark while waterskiing in his trademark leather jacket. Some years later that episode came to be widely identified as marking the beginning of the iconic show's decline, and its plot device became a metaphor for similar transformations:

Nearly all TV shows ever produced have jumped the shark eventually. Such is the nature of television's creative conundrum.
— Monica Collins, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2000

Most TV series take three seasons to jump the shark, but in the theater it can happen in 20 minutes …
— Bob Verini, Daily Variety, 18 Sept. 2009

But in its headlong embrace of capitalism and corporate tie-ins, “Sex and the City” may have finally jumped the shark.
— Laura Compton, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 May 2010

The phrase is no longer limited to contexts involving entertainment; anything that undergoes a significant change for the worse that marks the start of a period of decline can be said to have "jumped the shark":

Not everyone agrees when Picasso's art jumped the shark.
— Jeffry Cudlin, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2011

Silicon Valley has “jumped the shark” and lacks innovation, venture capitalist Peter Thiel says.
— Mike Murphy, MarketWatch, 1 Nov. 2018

Synonyms

Verb

• bound
• hop
• leap
• spring
• vault

Noun

• bound
• hop
• leap
• spring
• vault

Examples of jump in a Sentence

Verb

The circus lion jumped through the hoop.

The fans were jumping up and down with excitement.

Everyone was jumping for joy when we found out that we had won an award.

The cat jumped down off the table.

The runner jumped a hurdle.

The car jumped the curb.

Everyone jumped into the pool.

He jumped into his truck and drove away.

She jumped when she heard a loud knock late at night.

She jumped to an early lead in the race.

Noun

The horse took the first jump easily but balked at the second.

took a small jump forward to avoid stepping in the puddle

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The following year, the number had jumped to 384, with a rate four times higher than the national average, according to CDC data. —David Ovalle, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023

The trampoline might be a favorite way to play for the Wales family, as Kate spoke about jumping around on it with George, Charlotte and Louis earlier this year. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023

Indeed, Disney's shares initially jumped 3% on news of the settlement, then sank after the formal announcement spelled out the details. —WSJ, 12 Sep. 2023

The 23-year-old has been jumped by seven players in Baltimore’s system this year despite hitting .290 with an .831 OPS with 37 doubles and 18 homers. —Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023

Authorities on Friday announced the firing of the prison tower guard on duty when Cavalcante scaled a wall by crab-walking up from the recreation yard, climbed over razor wire, ran across a roof and jumped to the ground. —Marc Levy, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2023

Brandon Stanley, the L.A. Chargers’ head coach, arrived at his team’s game with the Miami Dolphins on September 10 in a sharp tailored look—unfortunately jumped the gun with trouser hems cut an inch too short. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Sep. 2023

The Auburn football team left Auburn on Thursday evening, traveled just less than 2,500 miles and jumped over two time zones before kicking things off late Saturday night. —Ainslie Lee | [e-mail], al, 11 Sep. 2023

The resulting preliminary assessment released in June 2021 identified 144 military UAP encounters since 2004, a figure which Mellon said has since jumped this year to more than 500 military UAP reports. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023

Noun

In Ward 2, including Georgetown and downtown, there have been 285 robberies, an 84 percent jump. —Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023

The movie begins in 1673 with the legend's origin and has a time jump to 1973 in Los Angeles, where caseworker Anna, played by Linda Cardellini, becomes entangled in mysterious happenings. —Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2023

Enterprise, Parker and Mary G. Montgomery all made big jumps into the top 10 of this week’s AL.com Power 25 high school football rankings. —Ben Thomas | [e-mail], al, 4 Sep. 2023

Researchers found that athletes who warmed up with glute exercises had a more powerful squat jump post-workout.4 Benefits of Resistance Band Exercises Resistance bands are an excellent tool for glute exercises. —Mallory Creveling, Health, 3 Sep. 2023

In recent years, however, the NCAA and conferences have loosened rules and have allowed universities to sell alcohol, and several athletic departments have since made the jump to allow anyone in attendance to buy a drink. —Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023

The young boomers who switched jobs nearly every year at the start of their careers saw annual pay jumps of 6.5%, the BLS found. —Byirina Ivanova, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2023

Consumers earning between $50,000 to $100,000 annually saw a 2% year-over-year jump to 65%. —Bychris Morris, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2023

That’s a big jump over 2022, when the average cost of owning a car was $10,728. —Wes Davis, The Verge, 30 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably akin to Low German gumpen to jump

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adverb

1539, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jump

• almost jump out of one's skin
• are/keep/stay one jump ahead
• hop, skip, and jump
• Johnny-jump-up
• be (in) for the high jump
• get/have/gain a/the jump on
• (go) jump in a/the lake
• bungee jump
• high jump
• come/jump to someone's defense
• jump into action
• jump in
• jump in (at) the deep end
• jump out of one's skin
• jump the gun
• jump-start
• jump the rails
• jump the shark
• the high jump
• the long jump
• a hop, skip, and (a) jump
• broad jump
• jump/leap off the page
• hop, step, and jump
• jump hook
• jump boot
• jump rope
• jump at
• jump cut
• jump on
• jump all over
• jump for joy
• jump out at
• jump down someone's throat
• jump ball
• jump jet
• jump-off
• ski jump
• jump pass
• jump the light
• jump seat
• jump through hoops
• jump the track(s)
• jump shooter
• jump bail
• long jump
• jump shot
• take a running jump
• jump scare
• quantum jump
• jump to it
• running jump
• jump to someone's defense
• triple jump
• water jump
• jump the queue
• jump ship

See More

• almost jump out of one's skin
• are/keep/stay one jump ahead
• hop, skip, and jump
• Johnny-jump-up
• be (in) for the high jump
• get/have/gain a/the jump on
• (go) jump in a/the lake
• bungee jump
• high jump
• come/jump to someone's defense
• jump into action
• jump in
• jump in (at) the deep end
• jump out of one's skin
• jump the gun
• jump-start
• jump the rails
• jump the shark
• the high jump
• the long jump
• a hop, skip, and (a) jump
• broad jump
• jump/leap off the page
• hop, step, and jump
• jump hook
• jump boot
• jump rope
• jump at
• jump cut
• jump on
• jump all over
• jump for joy
• jump out at
• jump down someone's throat
• jump ball
• jump jet
• jump-off
• ski jump
• jump pass
• jump the light
• jump seat
• jump through hoops
• jump the track(s)
• jump shooter
• jump bail
• long jump
• jump shot
• take a running jump
• jump scare
• quantum jump
• jump to it
• running jump
• jump to someone's defense
• triple jump
• water jump
• jump the queue
• jump ship

See More

Kids Definition

jump

1 of 2 verb

ˈjəmp 

1

a

: to spring into the air : leap

b

: to give a sudden movement : start

c

: to begin to move

—usually used with off

2

: to rise or raise suddenly in rank, status, or condition

prices jumped

3

: to make a sudden attack

jumped on us for being late

4

: to become lively with activity

the woods were jumping

5

a

: to pass over or cause to pass over by a leap

jump a hurdle

b

: bypass entry 2

jump electrical connections

c

: to leap aboard

jump a freight

6

: to run away and hide while at liberty under (bail)

7

: to depart from a normal course

jump the track

8

: to occupy illegally

jump a mining claim

jump

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: an act of jumping : leap

b

: any of several sports competitions that involve jumping

c

: a space covered by a leap

d

: a sudden involuntary movement : start

e

: a move made in a board game by jumping

2

a

: a sharp sudden increase

b

: one in a series of moves

keep one jump ahead

3

: an advantage at the start