leap

verb

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\ ˈlēp

leaped or leapt\ ˈlēpt

also ˈlept

\; leaping\ ˈlē-piŋ

Definition of leap

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to spring free from or as if from the ground : jump leap over a fence a fish leaps out of the water

2a : to pass abruptly from one state or topic to another the difficult leap from college to the workplace

b : to act precipitately leaped at the chance

transitive verb

: to pass over by leaping leaped the wall

leap

noun

Definition of leap (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : an act of leaping : spring, bound

b(1) : a place leaped over or from

(2) : the distance covered by a leap

2a : a sudden passage or transition a great leap forward

b : a choice made in an area of ultimate concern a leap of faith

by leaps and bounds

: with extraordinary rapidity a town growing by leaps and bounds

Other Words from leap Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing leap Learn More About leap

Synonyms for leap

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Examples of leap in a Sentence

Verb The cat suddenly leaped into the air. Fish were leaping out of the water. He leaped off the bridge. The boys leaped over the stream. The horse leaped the stone wall. When the alarm went off, she leapt out of bed. Noun She made a graceful leap into the air. He ran and took a flying leap over the stream. He won the high jump with a leap of six feet. the leap from childhood to adulthood She has shown great leaps in ability. Technology has taken a great leap forward. It required a leap of the imagination to picture how the project would look when it was completed. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb But when Amin gave his expulsion order, the British government didn't leap into action. — Lucy Fulford, CNN, 18 Sep. 2022 Her soldiers flip over each other’s backs, leap into the air, turn spears into throat-skewering projectiles. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2022 During the siege of an adobe church in which nighttime attackers leap through high windows, the interior becomes like an otherworldly stage, with women holding up candles to illuminate deadly combat. — Kristin M. Jones, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 But if the tax and climate bill championed by Senate Democrats becomes law, those figures would leap to $130 or $180 per metric ton. — Nicholas Kusnetz, San Antonio Express-News, 6 Aug. 2022 By Richard Chiappone; Crooked Lane Books; 2021; 304 pages; $27.99 Homer, Alaska, doesn’t leap to mind as an obvious setting for a political thriller, especially one where the outcome could determine an American presidential race. — David James, Anchorage Daily News, 31 July 2022 Suni Lee is ready to leap into the new year with confidence. — Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 But when Mountcastle faces Toronto, the ball tends to leap off his bat. — Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2022 Gunfire rains down as the women run and leap off the boat, plunging into the Thames. — Kat Rosenfield, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun While the iPhone 14 Pro is a significant upgrade over the previous generation, the isn’t quite as huge of a leap forward. — Jacob Siegal, BGR, 19 Sep. 2022 With a leap, Orioles left fielder Austin Hays reached toward the ball and missed the catch. — Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 30 July 2022 But with a leap of 56 feet, 4 inches on his sixth and final attempt, Ihemeje did move up to finish fifth, one spot ahead of the United States’ Donald Scott. — oregonlive, 23 July 2022 National indoor champion won high jump at Greenfield-Central with leap of 6-11, top mark in Indiana outdoors this year. — David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 27 May 2022 Lacy won the long jump at the Euclid Relays with a leap of 21-3. — cleveland, 11 May 2022 The gut punch of a generation leap—the ache of knowing that your tech is officially outmoded—was nowhere to be found. — WIRED, 3 Sep. 2022 Though, blending his style with the indie rock soundscapes of Soccer Mommy didn’t turn out to be much of a sonic leap. — Ej Panaligan, Variety, 23 Aug. 2022 The Nevera is said to be capable of a 1.85-second leap to 60 mph and a quarter-mile time of 8.6 seconds. — Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 17 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leap.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.