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Definition of spring
sprang
play \ˈspraŋ\ orsprung
play \ˈsprəŋ\;sprung
;springing
play \ˈspriŋ-iŋ\intransitive verb
1a (1) : dart, shoot sparks sprang out from the fire (2) : to be resilient or elastic; also : to move by elastic force the lid sprang shutb : to become warped
2 : to issue with speed and force or as a stream tears spring from our eyes
3a : to grow as a plantb : to issue by birth or descent sprang from the upper classc : to come into being : arise towns sprang up across the plainsd archaic : dawne : to begin to blow —used with up a breeze quickly sprang up
4a : to make a leap or series of leaps springing across the lawnb : to leap or jump up suddenly sprang from their seats
5 : to stretch out in height : rise
6 : pay —used with for I'll spring for the drinks
transitive verb
1 : to cause to spring
2a : to undergo or bring about the splitting or cracking of wind sprang the mastb : to undergo the opening of (a leak)
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of spring from the Web
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New apartments sprung up, and today downtown is home to around 3,500 residents.
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The doppelgänger, now sprung from prison, is shot and killed by Ray, apparently in collaboration with Phillip Jeffries.
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A new, multibillion-dollar industry has sprung up to help. 4.
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Place in oven and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the top is golden and springs back when lightly touched.
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As the town took root, ancillary businesses sprang up, including the requisite saloons and bordellos, along with the marginally criminal types frequenting such establishments.
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Google sprung the idea of twitch-quick Internet at the start of this decade with unblushing self interest.
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Netanyahu effusively praised Trump before his museum address and sprang to his feet to lead applause for him several times.
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Four Glendale Community College track and field athletes sprung in to action Friday night looking to capture some state hardware.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spring'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of spring
Middle English, from Old English springan; akin to Old High German springan to jump and perhaps to Greek sperchesthai to hasten
Synonym Discussion of spring
spring
Definition of spring
1a : a source of supply; especially : a source of water issuing from the groundb : an ultimate source especially of action or motion
2 : spring tide
3 : a time or season of growth or development; specifically : the season between winter and summer comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of March, April, and May or as reckoned astronomically extending from the March equinox to the June solstice
4 : an elastic body or device that recovers its original shape when released after being distorted
5a : the act or an instance of leaping up or forward : boundb (1) : capacity for springing : resilience (2) : energy, bounce
6 : the point or plane at which an arch or vault curve springs from its impost
Examples of spring in a Sentence
We'll plant the seeds next spring.
We've had a rainy spring.
a beautiful day in early spring
The first few weeks of spring were unusually warm.
The mattress is old and some of the springs are broken.
The cushion has lost its spring.
Recent Examples of spring from the Web
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The better months for hiking the trails are in the spring and fall, say authorities.
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In the spring of this year, Kendall graced the cover of Vogue India.
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Yesterday, the family of four visited the Tirtha Empul Temple—an ancient water temple with holy springs believed to have magical powers—for the next stop on their trip.
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We will be born of the water, swimming alongside Weeki Wachee’s legendary mermaids who ruled the springs in the 1960s and ’70s, performing underwater shows that have delighted hundreds of thousands of visitors for exactly 70 years.
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The list of firsts this spring proved to be an impressive one.
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People have skied all 53 (or more) of the fourteeners in winter, climbed stable spring snow to the summits.
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The H7N9 bird flu virus has influenza scientists on edge, due to an unexpected surge of human infections — hundreds of cases — caused by the virus this spring.
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Then this spring there were an all-time high 10 players from the county on a Terrapin team that finished a perfect 23-0.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spring'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of spring
before 12th century
Other Calendar Terms
Recent Examples of spring from the Web
-
New apartments sprung up, and today downtown is home to around 3,500 residents.
-
The doppelgänger, now sprung from prison, is shot and killed by Ray, apparently in collaboration with Phillip Jeffries.
-
A new, multibillion-dollar industry has sprung up to help. 4.
-
Place in oven and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the top is golden and springs back when lightly touched.
-
As the town took root, ancillary businesses sprang up, including the requisite saloons and bordellos, along with the marginally criminal types frequenting such establishments.
-
Google sprung the idea of twitch-quick Internet at the start of this decade with unblushing self interest.
-
Netanyahu effusively praised Trump before his museum address and sprang to his feet to lead applause for him several times.
-
Four Glendale Community College track and field athletes sprung in to action Friday night looking to capture some state hardware.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spring'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of spring
1884
SPRING Defined for English Language Learners
spring
Definition of spring for English Language Learners
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: the season between winter and summer : the season when plants and trees begin to grow
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: a twisted or coiled piece of metal that returns to its original shape when it is pressed down or stretched
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: the ability of something to return to its original shape when it is pressed down, stretched, twisted, etc.
SPRING Defined for Kids
Definition of spring for Students
sprang
\ˈspraŋ\ orsprung
\ˈsprəŋ\;sprung
;springing
1 : to move suddenly upward or forward : leap The lion crouched, waiting to spring.
2 : to appear or grow quickly or suddenly Weeds sprang up overnight. Tears sprang from her eyes.
3 : to have (a leak) appear
4 : to move quickly by or as if by stretching and springing back The lid sprang shut.
5 : to cause to operate suddenly He was planning to spring a trap.
6 : to come into being : arise An idea sprang in his mind.
Definition of spring for Students
1 : the season between winter and summer including in the northern hemisphere usually the months of March, April, and May
2 : a twisted or coiled strip of material (as metal) that recovers its original shape when it is released after being squeezed or stretched
3 : the ability of something to return to its original shape when it is compressed or stretched
4 : a source of supply (as of water coming up from the ground)
5 : the act or an instance of leaping up or forward He … caught sight of the incredible spring of a doe … — Virginia Hamilton, M. C. Higgins
6 : a bouncy or lively quality She had a spring in her step.
Medical Dictionary
spring
playMedical Definition of spring
: any of various elastic orthodontic devices used especially to apply constant pressure to misaligned teeth
Learn More about spring
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See words that rhyme with spring Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for spring Spanish Central: Translation of spring Nglish: Translation of spring for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of spring for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spring
Seen and Heard
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