Synonyms of spring

spring 1 of 4

noun

1

as in leap

an act of leaping into the air

the deer gave a sudden spring and disappeared into the woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leap
• jump
• hop
• vault
• bounce
• bound
• pounce
• skip
• caper
• lope
• attack
• plunge
• gambol
• gambado
• pitch
• dive
• capriole

2

as in source

a point or place at which something is invented or provided

the springs of this time-honored tradition run too deep to allow for easy explanation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• source
• cradle
• fountain
• beginning
• origin
• commencement
• well
• root
• start
• font
• wellspring
• seedbed
• morning
• kickoff
• dawn
• fountainhead
• inception
• launch
• onset
• genesis
• outset
• day one
• threshold
• baseline
• incipience
• first base
• ground zero
• nascence
• incipiency
• nascency
• get-go
• square one

spring

2 of 4

verb (1)

ˈspriŋ 

1

as in to start

to come into existence

when it comes to love and romance, hope springs eternally

Synonyms & Similar Words

• start
• begin
• originate
• arise
• commence
• appear
• be
• form
• set in
• emerge
• arrive
• break
• dawn
• last
• materialize
• live
• exist
• actualize
• breathe
• engender
• continue
• survive
• come on
• subsist
• persist
• shape (up)
• endure
• coalesce
• cohere

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• end
• stop
• cease
• finish
• conclude
• terminate
• halt
• quit
• discontinue
• disappear
• die
• dissolve
• vanish
• expire
• depart
• perish
• evaporate
• desist
• pass away

2

as in to leap

to propel oneself upward or forward into the air

the cat sprang and pounced on the mouse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leap
• jump
• hop
• bound
• vault
• bounce
• pounce
• skip
• frolic
• attack
• lope
• hurdle
• romp
• caper
• buck
• cavort
• gambol
• leapfrog
• skyrocket
• capriole
• shoot

3

as in to release

to set free (as from slavery or confinement)

had to spend a night in jail until their lawyer could come to spring them

Synonyms & Similar Words

• release
• free
• rescue
• liberate
• save
• loose
• loosen
• turn loose
• discharge
• enlarge
• emancipate
• enfranchise
• unbind
• disenthrall
• unfetter
• bail (out)
• uncage
• manumit
• parole
• unchain
• ransom
• disengage
• redeem
• deliver
• extricate
• disentangle
• disembarrass
• disencumber
• unshackle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bind
• confine
• restrain
• jail
• fetter
• shackle
• commit
• intern
• enchain
• lock (up)
• handcuff
• imprison
• conquer
• incarcerate
• trammel
• subdue
• subjugate
• enslave
• manacle
• immure

spring (for)

3 of 4

verb (2)

as in to pay

to give what is owed for

offered to spring for dinner for the whole gang

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pay
• pay off
• meet
• pony up
• pay up
• settle
• balance
• stand
• ante (up)
• foot
• liquidate
• discharge
• quit
• clear
• recompense

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repudiate

spring (up)

4 of 4

verb (3)

as in to surface

to come to one's attention especially gradually or unexpectedly

a new issue sprang up at yesterday's meeting of the school board

Synonyms & Similar Words

• surface
• arise
• emerge
• happen
• occur
• crop (up)
• go (on)
• come up
• appear
• materialize
• come about
• come out
• come
• fall out
• turn up
• show up
• go off
• interfere
• intervene
• intrude
• transpire
• chance
• pass
• hap
• interpose

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb spring differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spring are arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, originate, proceed, rise, and stem. While all these words mean "to come up or out of something into existence," spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

How do arise and rise relate to one another, in the sense of spring?

Arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen

slowly rose to prominence

When is it sensible to use derive instead of spring?

In some situations, the words derive and spring are roughly equivalent. However, derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

Where would emanate be a reasonable alternative to spring?

While in some cases nearly identical to spring, emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

How are the words flow and spring related?

Flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

When might issue be a better fit than spring?

Although the words issue and spring have much in common, issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

When would originate be a good substitute for spring?

The meanings of originate and spring largely overlap; however, originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

When could proceed be used to replace spring?

The synonyms proceed and spring are sometimes interchangeable, but proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

In what contexts can stem take the place of spring?

While the synonyms stem and spring are close in meaning, stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spring

Noun

The game took place at Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium in the spring of 2005, but the film doesn’t really follow the game. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026

ResMed started its baddies page this spring and began creating social media content with CPAP users. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Verb

Local Venezuelan restaurants are springing into action with donation drives and fundraisers. — Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Think about cities with world-class luxury hotels, and Boston may not immediately spring to mind. — Andrew Sessa, Robb Report, 2 July 2026

Phrases Containing spring

• spring (for)
• spring (up)