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
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Miami squeaked into the postseason after a long and protracted battle — with a public relations nudge from the ACC — to leap past Notre Dame.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Reaching 700 km/h (435 mph) in two seconds over such a short distance highlights a leap in control and power handling.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leap
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Verb
By the letter of the law, Jahdae Barron made contact with Washington in the end zone later that same drive, even though the pass from Lawrence wouldn't have been caught by a leaping Victor Wembanyama.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Miami squeaked into the postseason after a long and protracted battle — with a public relations nudge from the ACC — to leap past Notre Dame.
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
Noun
In June 2025, Miranda Pagan took a leap of faith, leaving upstate New York for the city and moving into a shelter with her toddler, Noah.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Reaching 700 km/h (435 mph) in two seconds over such a short distance highlights a leap in control and power handling.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leap
Cite this Entry
“Leap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leap. Accessed 29 Dec. 2025.
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