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
Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
An insect-scale robot that jumps using only light has completed 188 continuous leaps without a single electronic component.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
Instead, Boston has remained one of the deepest and most resilient teams in the league, thanks in part to massive leaps by players like Queta, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh, and an impressive debut season from Gonzalez.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Even artists from the soundtrack made commercial leaps.
—Chris Parton, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2026
That means top wideouts and running backs will be running the 40-yard dash and measuring their vertical leaps.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
The dance world has often based its plaudits on how spectacularly performers can defy gravity with leaps, kicks and twirls.
—Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
Or significant leaps in the costs of many goods and services that do not show up in the inflation rate.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
Elustondo, Brenden Watts, Gregorio Duron Contreras and others all took leaps.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026
Fiery Mars leaps into a supportive sextile to healing Chiron, encouraging us to make the first move in mending strained bonds of any type.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
But Fleming leaps past other wry wordsmiths with his constant, unrelenting effort to wring every last drop of laughter out of every single premise.
—John Roy, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
But then, the moment Buckley walks on, the entire audience leaps to its feet, roaring and clapping for her.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
In a cult classic 1976 film, The Bill Koch Experience, the star slaloms at perilous speed through low brush, dodges cows in a pasture, and also leaps off a boulder, only to tumble.
—Bill Donahue, Outside, 14 Feb. 2026
While still on Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek hosted Saturday Night Live — the musical guest was Everlast — and landed a plumb role in Varsity Blues, playing a second-string high school quarterback who leaps into the breach when the star suffers an injury.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
When the drivers stride out, the grandstand leaps up.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Tebow practically leaps to his feet to say hello.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
After months of training inside the center and outside on the beach, the two men made significant leaps.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
An insect-scale robot that jumps using only light has completed 188 continuous leaps without a single electronic component.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Mar. 2026
Instead, Boston has remained one of the deepest and most resilient teams in the league, thanks in part to massive leaps by players like Queta, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh, and an impressive debut season from Gonzalez.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2026
Even artists from the soundtrack made commercial leaps.
—Chris Parton, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2026
That means top wideouts and running backs will be running the 40-yard dash and measuring their vertical leaps.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
The dance world has often based its plaudits on how spectacularly performers can defy gravity with leaps, kicks and twirls.
—Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
Or significant leaps in the costs of many goods and services that do not show up in the inflation rate.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
Elustondo, Brenden Watts, Gregorio Duron Contreras and others all took leaps.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Over six feet tall and skinny, with a mass of reddish curls, Fleming leaps and bounds across stage while delivering riffs on the bitmoji skills of baby boomers, ballads dedicated to deceased chain craft store Joann’s Fabrics, and Celine Dion’s gamer sons.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2026
Fiery Mars leaps into a supportive sextile to healing Chiron, encouraging us to make the first move in mending strained bonds of any type.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026
But Fleming leaps past other wry wordsmiths with his constant, unrelenting effort to wring every last drop of laughter out of every single premise.
—John Roy, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
But then, the moment Buckley walks on, the entire audience leaps to its feet, roaring and clapping for her.
—Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
In a cult classic 1976 film, The Bill Koch Experience, the star slaloms at perilous speed through low brush, dodges cows in a pasture, and also leaps off a boulder, only to tumble.
—Bill Donahue, Outside, 14 Feb. 2026
While still on Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek hosted Saturday Night Live — the musical guest was Everlast — and landed a plumb role in Varsity Blues, playing a second-string high school quarterback who leaps into the breach when the star suffers an injury.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
When the drivers stride out, the grandstand leaps up.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
Tebow practically leaps to his feet to say hello.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaps
Noun
-
Meanwhile, energy prices continued to soar after posting large jumps yesterday.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Researchers found that bone seems to respond best when there’s a small rest between individual jumps or between sets of jumps.—
Adam Cohen,
Oklahoman,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Isabelle hops, arms splayed upward, hits the water, and swims to Mom.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The man inside the trash can hops over the edge and hits the ground running, and the footage shows a police officer chasing after him around the corner and down the street.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaps. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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