leap

1 of 2

verb

leaped or leapt ˈlēpt How to pronounce leap (audio)
also
ˈlept How to pronounce leap (audio)
; leaping ˈlē-piŋ How to pronounce leap (audio)

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
2
a
: 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
leaper noun

leap

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: an act of leaping : spring, bound
b(1)
: a place leaped over or from
(2)
: the distance covered by a leap
2
a
: a sudden passage or transition
a great leap forward
b
: a choice made in an area of ultimate concern
a leap of faith
Phrases
by leaps and bounds
: with extraordinary rapidity
a town growing by leaps and bounds

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Dramatic video shows the moment a Florida police dog helped his partner with a felony arrest on a causeway – and then suddenly leaped over the railing that's 75 feet above water. Li Cohen, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024 Just out of college, chemical engineers can command $79,000 salaries—a median figure that leaps to $133,000 within 15 years of graduation, the highest of any major. Jane Thier, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 But egg prices leaped 5.8% amid another avian flu outbreak, breakfast cereal rose 2%, and fish was up 0.4%. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 Then, like Youngs, Veitch learned late last year that her rent would leap between 8.5 percent and 13.7 percent each year through 2027. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 One candidate in the race to represent northeast Sacramento County communities leaped ahead in a crowded field. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 The Charger, along with the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, is one of the models that leaps to mind when people think of muscle cars. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 Players could see all the action as Mario leaped over barrels, grabbed power-up hammers and climbed to the top. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 There are signs that a lurch to the right is brewing in many European nations, just as Donald Trump leaps toward the Republican nomination in the US election in November. Vasco Cotovio, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
Despite that big leap, however, Gen Z is still the unhappiest generation in the workplace. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 Encouraged by his cousins, Davido took a leap of faith into the spotlight, transitioning from behind-the-scenes producer to an emerging artist. Walaa Elsiddig, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024 In a new interview on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live, the Puerto Rican superstar revealed his father, Enrique, encouraged him to take a leap of faith and come out as gay to his fans in order to live his truth. Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 It was later produced at New York Theatre Workshop in 2022 before making the leap to Broadway. Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 To make that leap, people need to understand that the glow reflects a flurry of activity inside the plant, a signal of its literal life force. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024 The Broncos, who made the expensive desperation leap to bring in Russell Wilson — who may not have been completely washed up, but in suds up to his navel — have told him to seek employment elsewhere. Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 Its first leap onto the international stage was in the 1920s, when American consumers were captivated by what those at the time viewed as an exaggeratedly exotic and cosmopolitan pursuit. Kinsey Gidicl, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 That was up from 13 percent in January 2023, and a big leap from the mere 4 percent that charged customers in January 2019. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English lepen, from Old English hlēapan; akin to Old High German hlouffan to run

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of leap was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near leap

Cite this Entry

“Leap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leap. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

leap

1 of 2 verb
leapt ˈlēpt How to pronounce leap (audio)
also
ˈlept How to pronounce leap (audio)
or leaped; leaping ˈlē-piŋ How to pronounce leap (audio)
1
: to spring or cause to spring free from or as if from the ground : jump
leap over a fence
2
a
: to pass suddenly from one state or topic to another
b
: to act hastily
I'd leap at the chance
leaper noun

leap

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: an act of leaping : spring, bound
b
: a place leaped over or from
c
: the distance covered by a leap
2
: a sudden change of state

More from Merriam-Webster on leap

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