as in assistance
an act or instance of helping
a key endorsement that would give the struggling candidate a real leg up right now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of leg up
Hazel, drawing both legs up and placing her elbows on her knees, asked.
—
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
But the fact that FourLeaf is a credit union gives it a significant leg up on affordability.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2026
Broadening your prune horizons can give you a leg up healthwise—and on the culinary front.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
Ryan Kreidler, who has played parts of the past four seasons with the Detroit Tigers, is a strong defender at short — and could also head out to center, which could give him a leg up on a spot.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leg up
Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
But the fact that FourLeaf is a credit union gives it a significant leg up on affordability.
—Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2026
Broadening your prune horizons can give you a leg up healthwise—and on the culinary front.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
Ryan Kreidler, who has played parts of the past four seasons with the Detroit Tigers, is a strong defender at short — and could also head out to center, which could give him a leg up on a spot.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leg up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leg up
Noun
-
That money is supposed to be deployed for things like the construction of affordable or workforce housing, rehabilitation of existing housing, and down payment assistance for homebuyers.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Each Travelive guest receives VIP assistance in airports and ports – being met at jetway, assisted with luggage and breezed through security with no waiting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Junior forward Sophia Wollenberg posted 22 goals and 16 assists last spring.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Panarin, who received a video tribute and ovation from the crowd during the first television timeout, had 607 points (205 goals, 402 assists), ninth in Rangers history, in 482 regular-season games for the team.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Trump has alluded to this possible dearth of popular support when asked about the possibility of backing Pahlavi to lead the country if the regime collapses.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Of The Trees plays a daytime and nighttime set both days, with support from Daily Bread.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Prep school standbys were seen across the runways for spring 2026, and are now trickling into transitional outerwear looks, with the help of a major wardrobe hero piece.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Forty-one minutes later, her pacemaker application disconnected from her phone, marking the precise moment an 84-year-old woman who could not walk 50 yards without help was ripped from her bed.—
Neal K. Shah,
Boston Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the initial boost to stocks of Archer, BETA, and rival Joby Aviation was short-lived.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Now, climate change is giving these squatters a boost.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Duquesne Light has historically brought in at most 200 mutual aid trucks.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Both were given medical aid, and the male victim was transported to a local hospital.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leg up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leg%20up. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
