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
Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Now, that must be followed by bigger leaps in how everything is taught.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
When Marcello Hernández speaks, his voice takes ebullient leaps and bounds.
—Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
A’Marion McCoy - Philadelphia Eagles minicamp Cornerback A’Marion McCoy came on in leaps and bounds for Boise State in his two years for the program, and will now have a chance to continue proving himself for a Super Bowl-caliber team.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 27 Apr. 2026
Home prices and rents did jump – but those leaps were below national surges.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
The island is enough, with its vegetable patches and firepit sheltered by dry walls at the island’s highest point; its rocky corners suitable for leaps into the sea that Antje has marked with little piles of stones.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The musical’s score by Ingrid Michaelson isn’t traditionally melodic, with big leaps from note to note that can easily strain a singer’s voice.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
The piece celebrates the music, culture and incredible leaps for humankind made during that summer, while also reminding us that our history isn’t so dissimilar from our present.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 27 Apr. 2026
The many leaps in time to the wedding—to which Ruben shows up on a motorcycle, angry enough to knock his brother out with a single punch—consistently ratchet up the sense of dread, and the suspense over why or how these two have stayed enmeshed.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Cappello started seeing these windows come in two decades ago from overseas, where energy-efficient window technology was leaps ahead of the United States.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 21 Apr. 2026
My particular focus on textbooks and curricular guidelines, though, demonstrates that sometimes, knowledge gaps lead to leaps forward.
—Daniela R. P. Weiner, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Season 3 leaps forward five years, aging its characters out of high school and into a much murkier version of adulthood.
—Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
China leaps ahead The recent curtailing of rapid EV expansion in the United States is in stark contrast with China and Europe, where EVs enjoy robust consumer demand and political support.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026
Romeo leaps to his feet and embraces Juliet, both of them saved; Juliet-as-an-old-woman appears and dances with Romeo as an older Romeo does the same with Juliet; Romeo and Juliet dote over a baby that will never be born.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
Another young girl, Maria Antonia’s best friend, leaps out of her desk to wrap her arms around her.
—Mica Rosenberg, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
Maybe the stage in which lucid dreams occur doesn’t involve as many creative leaps.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Now, that must be followed by bigger leaps in how everything is taught.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
When Marcello Hernández speaks, his voice takes ebullient leaps and bounds.
—Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
A’Marion McCoy - Philadelphia Eagles minicamp Cornerback A’Marion McCoy came on in leaps and bounds for Boise State in his two years for the program, and will now have a chance to continue proving himself for a Super Bowl-caliber team.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 27 Apr. 2026
Home prices and rents did jump – but those leaps were below national surges.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
The island is enough, with its vegetable patches and firepit sheltered by dry walls at the island’s highest point; its rocky corners suitable for leaps into the sea that Antje has marked with little piles of stones.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The musical’s score by Ingrid Michaelson isn’t traditionally melodic, with big leaps from note to note that can easily strain a singer’s voice.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
The piece celebrates the music, culture and incredible leaps for humankind made during that summer, while also reminding us that our history isn’t so dissimilar from our present.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
His voice leaps across the intervening years clearly and confidently.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 27 Apr. 2026
The many leaps in time to the wedding—to which Ruben shows up on a motorcycle, angry enough to knock his brother out with a single punch—consistently ratchet up the sense of dread, and the suspense over why or how these two have stayed enmeshed.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
Cappello started seeing these windows come in two decades ago from overseas, where energy-efficient window technology was leaps ahead of the United States.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 21 Apr. 2026
My particular focus on textbooks and curricular guidelines, though, demonstrates that sometimes, knowledge gaps lead to leaps forward.
—Daniela R. P. Weiner, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026
Season 3 leaps forward five years, aging its characters out of high school and into a much murkier version of adulthood.
—Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
China leaps ahead The recent curtailing of rapid EV expansion in the United States is in stark contrast with China and Europe, where EVs enjoy robust consumer demand and political support.
—Allie Canal, NBC news, 7 Apr. 2026
Romeo leaps to his feet and embraces Juliet, both of them saved; Juliet-as-an-old-woman appears and dances with Romeo as an older Romeo does the same with Juliet; Romeo and Juliet dote over a baby that will never be born.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
Another young girl, Maria Antonia’s best friend, leaps out of her desk to wrap her arms around her.
—Mica Rosenberg, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaps
Noun
-
The staff manning the cart periodically struck the metal tops of the bottles of Clase Azul, a flourish that caused a few jumps among the more skittish attendees.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The last three jumps felt good.—
Steve Brand,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Alix Earle takes her shoes off and hops on a mechanical bull at the Whiskey River x SipMargs event in Nashville Tennessee on April 24.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Named for the interesting seed pods that resemble hops, it is related to American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), as both are members of the birch family, but where Hophornbeam prefers upland soils, Hornbeam prefers floodplains.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaps. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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