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
: to pass over by leaping
leaped the wall
1
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
see also 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
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
McKinnon takes serious precautions to ensure every last component of a costume stays intact, even as athletes leap, spin, and twirl at rapid pace.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 6 Feb. 2026
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) leaps in the air after seeing backup center Emily Hunter block a shot late in the game against the Houston Cougars at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, February 4, 2026.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leap
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Verb
Whether the game is a blowout or comes down to a fateful goal-line stand, loyalists of one team may leap for joy, while others might lash out in anger, pummeling their TV sets or sinking into a deep postgame funk.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
McKinnon takes serious precautions to ensure every last component of a costume stays intact, even as athletes leap, spin, and twirl at rapid pace.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
An Asian restaurant with a Twin Falls fan base has made the leap to a larger market.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Texas Christian University Horned Frogs guard Olivia Miles (5) leaps in the air after seeing backup center Emily Hunter block a shot late in the game against the Houston Cougars at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, February 4, 2026.
—Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leap
Cite this Entry
“Leap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leap. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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