as in rambling
passing from one topic to another
we had trouble following the lecturer's leaping look at archaeological discoveries around the world
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as in jumping
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air
the outfielder leaped into the air to catch the ball before it went over the fence
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Recent Examples of leaping
Pete Sweeney
june 10, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
Richie Palacios hit a comebacker that could have been a 1-2-3 double play but the ball bounced off the glove of a leaping Hill, over Caballero and into center for a two-run single.
—ABC News, 22 May 2026
Murakami broke out of his homerless stretch in the third, lofting a long, high fly that was just out of the reach of a leaping Crow-Armstrong in center field for his 16th home run of the year.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
The Rams skipped across the country as a historic 10½-point favorite — biggest postseason spread in modern history — yet trudged home requiring a last-second touchdown pass from the unsinkable Matthew Stafford to a leaping Colby Parkinson.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Two plays later, Corona del Mar linebacker Cash Pearsall made a leaping interception near midfield.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
Bryce Teodosio’s long fly ball landed to the back side of a leaping Outman, going for a leadoff triple in the bottom of the eighth inning.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Sean Gregory, Time, 20 June 2026
Dial it over to Sport mode, and the VLE is properly perky, leaping forward with just a modest flex of your right ankle.
—Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
The ball deflected off an Australian defender and into the air, and the 6-3 Freeman showed his leaping ability, heading it past the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Patrick Beach and into the net.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026
Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna.
—CBS News, 18 June 2026
Katherine Fraser starred in the field for Scotland with two wickets, including bowling Hayley Matthews, a leaping catch on the boundary, and a run out of Shemaine Campbelle on 36.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
According to folk belief, stepping or leaping over the flames brings love and fertility, while the height of the flames predicts the coming year’s harvest.
—Thomas A. Dubois, The Conversation, 17 June 2026
Jun and his companions set out to try and save their moon as Travelers leaping into the timestream to uncover ancient secrets and locate powerful alien remnants that will aid them in battling back against evolved human descendants called Celestials.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 June 2026
Khoukhi, a 35-year-old who has been in the Qatari national team program since 2013, scored the historic goal by drilling the header while leaping over a Swiss defender.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Adjective
Within three plays in 11-on-11, speedy fifth-round rookie receiver Cyrus Allen reeled in a deep pass from Fields down the left sideline, then scored a leaping touchdown in the red zone on a sprint-out to the left side of the end zone.
—Pete Sweeney
june 10, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
Richie Palacios hit a comebacker that could have been a 1-2-3 double play but the ball bounced off the glove of a leaping Hill, over Caballero and into center for a two-run single.
—ABC News, 22 May 2026
Murakami broke out of his homerless stretch in the third, lofting a long, high fly that was just out of the reach of a leaping Crow-Armstrong in center field for his 16th home run of the year.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
The Rams skipped across the country as a historic 10½-point favorite — biggest postseason spread in modern history — yet trudged home requiring a last-second touchdown pass from the unsinkable Matthew Stafford to a leaping Colby Parkinson.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Two plays later, Corona del Mar linebacker Cash Pearsall made a leaping interception near midfield.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
Bryce Teodosio’s long fly ball landed to the back side of a leaping Outman, going for a leadoff triple in the bottom of the eighth inning.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Advertisement Defender Alex Freeman’s insurance goal in the 43rd minute wasn’t just notable for the athleticism Freeman displayed on a leaping header.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 20 June 2026
Dial it over to Sport mode, and the VLE is properly perky, leaping forward with just a modest flex of your right ankle.
—Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
The ball deflected off an Australian defender and into the air, and the 6-3 Freeman showed his leaping ability, heading it past the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Patrick Beach and into the net.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026
Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna.
—CBS News, 18 June 2026
Katherine Fraser starred in the field for Scotland with two wickets, including bowling Hayley Matthews, a leaping catch on the boundary, and a run out of Shemaine Campbelle on 36.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
According to folk belief, stepping or leaping over the flames brings love and fertility, while the height of the flames predicts the coming year’s harvest.
—Thomas A. Dubois, The Conversation, 17 June 2026
Jun and his companions set out to try and save their moon as Travelers leaping into the timestream to uncover ancient secrets and locate powerful alien remnants that will aid them in battling back against evolved human descendants called Celestials.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 June 2026
Khoukhi, a 35-year-old who has been in the Qatari national team program since 2013, scored the historic goal by drilling the header while leaping over a Swiss defender.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaping
Adjective
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Blackened with volcanic rock and encircled by towering waves, the tumultuous scenery makes a vivid psychic landscape for So Help Me God, a rambling spell of ’70s-era soul and exuberant orchestral folk-pop that sweeps through the fog of heartbreak and the clarity of self-discovery.—
Kiana Mickles,
Pitchfork,
15 June 2026
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Lady Banks’ rose (Rosa banksiae) is a large, rambling rose that can quickly grow up to 20 feet long.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, progressive and labor groups that often find themselves at odds with the Chamber are avoiding jumping to conclusions, saying the move speaks more to the group’s quest for relevance than Becerra’s politics.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2026
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Nonprofit Kiss the Ground's latest survey reveals significant growth in regenerative agriculture awareness, jumping from 7% to 13% in a year, with one in four Americans now familiar with the term.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Controlled mind-wandering – Mind-wandering is a spontaneous zoning out of your immediate surroundings.—
Eric Zillmer,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
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Their newest roams freer musically, with an unburdened wandering feel.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2026
Verb
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For some, that meant hopping on a plane to get here.—
Amina Kilpatrick,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
-
Many are hopping off the plane and looking for Kansas City barbecue, and others are staying in hotels nearby.—
Jenna Thompson
June 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leaping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaping. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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