as in hops
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leaps
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Jake made leaps in high school, twice becoming an All-State player and a four-star recruiting prospect.
—Mirin Fader, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Even though recognition for the 6-foot-9 Hassan is growing by leaps and bounds, coach Ernie Colombe feels Hassan deserves more respect as a double-double machine for the Knights.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
The outdoor temperature when the first round of swimmers took their leaps was about 35 degrees.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
The novel continues across three more time leaps, to the near-present.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2025
That progress was far more limited than the leaps forward by Nvidia (+39%) and other players in the AI race, which drove stock markets to new records.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
Those developments are sure to capitalize on this past year’s advancements by making more important leaps in 2026.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 30 Dec. 2025
The boy quickly ascends the interior staircase, rushes into the corridor and clears the steps to the garret in three leaps.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
The heart leaps every now and then to hear some hot rod out there, or some motorcycle roaring late at night in glorious, mortal disregard.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
And in Ackie’s hands, Nasha leaps off the page and dazzles on screen.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Brigitte Bardot's magnetic beauty leaps off the screen in her film Le Mépris.
—Alexandre Marain, Glamour, 28 Dec. 2025
On Christmas Eve, Santa eats a jolly roll and leaps into his sleigh.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2025
In a grimy gray wig and sober black suit that subtly but pointedly leaps a century forward from the play’s origins to recall the Founding Fathers, Matthew Broderick’s Tartuffe speaks like the grandpa next door and pads across the stage with furtive footsteps, a monster masquerading as a mouse.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
And when the ground gets too rocky, soggy or scratchy, the tent leaps up into the trees on a stable spreader hammock, creating a compact, free-hanging camping pod that won't tilt or twist.
—New Atlas, 9 Dec. 2025
The biannual launches of China’s Shenzhou program have been a source of pride as the country’s space program makes giant leaps forward.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Lenovo came out all guns blazing at CES 2026, using its biggest global stage yet to signal major leaps across devices, AI, and partnerships.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
Jake made leaps in high school, twice becoming an All-State player and a four-star recruiting prospect.
—Mirin Fader, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Even though recognition for the 6-foot-9 Hassan is growing by leaps and bounds, coach Ernie Colombe feels Hassan deserves more respect as a double-double machine for the Knights.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
The outdoor temperature when the first round of swimmers took their leaps was about 35 degrees.
—Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
The novel continues across three more time leaps, to the near-present.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2025
That progress was far more limited than the leaps forward by Nvidia (+39%) and other players in the AI race, which drove stock markets to new records.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
Those developments are sure to capitalize on this past year’s advancements by making more important leaps in 2026.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 30 Dec. 2025
The boy quickly ascends the interior staircase, rushes into the corridor and clears the steps to the garret in three leaps.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Creative play brightens, and feelings gently soften as the Moon leaps into your 5th House of Affection.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
The heart leaps every now and then to hear some hot rod out there, or some motorcycle roaring late at night in glorious, mortal disregard.
—David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
And in Ackie’s hands, Nasha leaps off the page and dazzles on screen.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Brigitte Bardot's magnetic beauty leaps off the screen in her film Le Mépris.
—Alexandre Marain, Glamour, 28 Dec. 2025
On Christmas Eve, Santa eats a jolly roll and leaps into his sleigh.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2025
In a grimy gray wig and sober black suit that subtly but pointedly leaps a century forward from the play’s origins to recall the Founding Fathers, Matthew Broderick’s Tartuffe speaks like the grandpa next door and pads across the stage with furtive footsteps, a monster masquerading as a mouse.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025
And when the ground gets too rocky, soggy or scratchy, the tent leaps up into the trees on a stable spreader hammock, creating a compact, free-hanging camping pod that won't tilt or twist.
—New Atlas, 9 Dec. 2025
The biannual launches of China’s Shenzhou program have been a source of pride as the country’s space program makes giant leaps forward.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaps
Noun
-
The jumps certainly power his mystique.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The gains were broad, with particularly big jumps for energy companies and banks.—
Damian J. Troise,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Re hops on a beam of light and flies into space in search of a cozy lunar nook.—
Caroline Carlson,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
On a crisp fall day, sun bathes the stones in light and a cat — one of a handful that roam the property — hops leisurely upon one.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaps. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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