jump ship

phrase

1

: to leave the company of a ship without authority

2

: to desert a cause or party especially abruptly

Examples of jump ship in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And an overture from an ABC exec (Jessica Hecht) to Andie to jump ship represents another kind of unsettling grooming. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

Longtime United Launch Alliance President and CEO Tory Bruno jumped ship right before Christmas last year, moving on to work with Blue Origin. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2026

But others are clearly skeptical, or clearly looking to jump ship. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Allies and advisers have also jumped ship, unable to retain support in FIFA’s beleaguered leader. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for jump ship

• airship
• airstrip
• clerkship
• courtship
• equip
• filmstrip
• flagship
• headship
• heirship
• judgeship
• kinship
• lightship