spring

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈspriŋ 

sprang ˈspraŋ  or sprung ˈsprəŋ  ; sprung; springing ˈspriŋ-iŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a(1)

: dart, shoot

Sparks sprang out from the fire.

(2)

: to be resilient or elastic

also : to move by elastic force

The lid sprang shut.

The branch sprang back and hit me.

b

: to become warped

2

: to issue with speed and force or as a stream

tears spring from our eyes

3

a

: to grow as a plant

b

: to issue by birth or descent

sprang from the upper class

c

: to come into being : arise

towns sprang up across the plains

d

archaic : dawn

e

: to begin to blow

—used with up

a breeze quickly sprang up

4

a

: to make a leap or series of leaps

springing across the lawn

b

: to leap or jump up suddenly

The lion was waiting to spring.

They 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

2

a

: to undergo or bring about the splitting or cracking of

wind sprang the mast

b

: to undergo the opening of (a leak)

3

a

: to cause to operate suddenly

spring a trap

b

: to apply or insert by bending

c

: to bend by force

springing a steel band

4

: to leap over

The horse sprang the fence.

5

: to produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly

You should have warned us instead of just springing it on us.

The teacher sprang a surprise and gave us a quiz.

6

: to make lame

7

: to release or cause to be released from confinement or custody

sprung them from jail

spring

2 of 3

noun

often attributive

1

a

: a source of supply

especially : a source of water issuing from the ground

b

: 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

—often used before another noun

a spring wardrobe

spring colors/flowers

4

: an elastic body or device that recovers its original shape when released after being distorted

5

a

: the act or an instance of leaping up or forward : bound

The deer made a spring and was gone.

b(1)

: capacity for springing : resilience

The cushions have lost their spring.

(2)

: energy, bounce

He has a spring in his step.

6

: the point or plane at which an arch or vault curve springs from its impost

springlike

ˈspriŋ-ˌlīk 

adjective

spring

3 of 3

verb (2)

sprung ˈsprəŋ  ; springing ˈspriŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

: to fit with springs

Synonyms of spring

Verb (1)

• start
• begin
• originate
• arise
• commence
• appear
• be
• form

Noun

• leap
• jump
• hop

Choose the Right Synonym for spring

spring, arise, rise, originate, derive, flow, issue, emanate, proceed, stem mean to come up or out of something into existence.

spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen

slowly rose to prominence

originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Examples of spring in a Sentence

Verb (1)

when it comes to love and romance, hope springs eternally

the cat sprang and pounced on the mouse

had to spend a night in jail until their lawyer could come to spring them

Noun

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 on the Web

Verb

And in overtime, the Batherson error sprung Alex Newhook, who won the game for the Canadiens. —Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

The idea is to begin creating a large, ready-to-work crew base in the state that can spring into action as film and TV productions ramp up. —Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025

Noun

With the climate crisis only deepening each year, throwing natural cycles and seasons into disarray, Japan is now bracing for future spikes in human-bear encounters each fall and spring. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025

And so, shortly after his startling, spirit-lifting victory in the primary last spring, the gentle flood of inquiries commenced. —Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English springan; akin to Old High German springan to jump and perhaps to Greek sperchesthai to hasten

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun

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

Verb (2)

1821, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing spring

• air spring
• box spring
• come/spring/leap to mind
• hot spring
• leaf spring
• spiral spring
• spring a leak
• spring a surprise
• spring a trap
• spring beauty
• spring bolt
• spring break
• spring chicken
• spring-clean
• spring-cleaning
• spring fever
• spring for
• spring from
• spring into/to action/life
• spring line
• spring-load
• spring on
• spring onion
• spring peeper
• spring roll
• spring tide
• spring training
• spring up
• spring wagon
• spring water
• tears spring to someone's eyes

Rhymes for spring

• bing
• bring
• ching
• cling
• ding
• fling
• ging
• hing
• jing
• kling
• ling
• ming

Kids Definition

spring

1 of 2 verb

ˈspriŋ 

sprang ˈspraŋ  or sprung ˈsprəŋ  ; sprung; springing ˈspriŋ-iŋ 

1

a

: to appear or grow quickly

the weeds sprang up overnight

b

: to come from by birth or descent

sprang from an immigrant family

c

: to come into being : arise

towns sprang up across the plains

2

: to move suddenly forward or upward : leap

a lion crouched and waiting to spring

sprang up the path

sprang to my feet

3

: to have (a leak) appear

4

a

: to move by elastic force

the lid sprang shut

b

: to become warped or bent

the door has sprung

5

a

: to cause to operate suddenly

spring a trap

b

: to produce suddenly

sprung a surprise on us

6

: pay entry 1 sense 1

—usually used with for

spring for a new pair of shoes

7

: to release or cause to be released from confinement (as jail)

spring

2 of 2 noun

1

: a source of supply

especially : a source of water coming up from the ground

2

a

: the season between winter and summer including in the northern hemisphere usually the months of March, April, and May

b

: a time or season of growth or development

3

: an elastic body or device that recovers its original shape when released after being squeezed or stretched

4

a

: the act or an instance of leaping up or forward

b

: elastic power or force

the spring in your step

Medical Definition

spring

noun

ˈspriŋ 

: any of various elastic orthodontic devices used especially to apply constant pressure to misaligned teeth