quantum leap

noun

plural quantum leaps

: an abrupt change, sudden increase, or dramatic advance

Note: Quantum leap is rarely used in scientific contexts, but it originated as a synonym of quantum jump, which describes an abrupt transition (as of an electron, an atom, or a molecule) from one discrete energy state to another.

Examples of quantum leap in a Sentence

Prices have taken a quantum leap upward.

The new drug is a quantum leap in the fight against cancer.

Recent Examples on the Web

From Text Readers to Hypertext Users The quantum leap from linear traditional text to hypertext has a series of far-reaching consequences related to hypertext’s multilinear, multiauthored, and multimodal character. —Carmen Daniela Maier, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026

While some commenters were critical, the quality of the video represented a quantum leap forward from the famously crude early AI videos depicting Will Smith eating spaghetti. —David Scarpa, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026

Chicago may be taking another quantum leap forward in its technology aspirations. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Her work spans 25 years, several shifts in our collective understanding of resilience and a quantum leap forward in our understanding of how mental health affects our work. —Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quantum leap

• asleep
• upkeep
• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• peep
• reap
• seep