leap

[ leep ]

verb (used without object)

, leaped or leapt [lept, leept], leap·ing.

1. to spring through the air from one point or position to another; jump:

   to leap over a ditch.

   Synonyms: bound

2. to move or act quickly or suddenly:

   to leap aside; She leaped at the opportunity.

3. to pass, come, rise, etc., as if with a jump:

   to leap to a conclusion; an idea that immediately leaped to mind.

verb (used with object)

, leaped or leapt [lept, leept], leap·ing.

1. to jump over:

   to leap a fence.

2. to pass over as if by a jump.
3. to cause to leap:

   to leap a horse.

noun

1. a spring, jump, or bound; a light, springing movement.
2. the distance covered in a leap; distance jumped.
3. a place leaped or to be leaped over or from.
4. a sudden or abrupt transition:

   a successful leap from piano class to concert hall.

5. a sudden and decisive increase:

   a leap in the company's profits.

leap

/ liːp /

verb

1. intr to jump suddenly from one place to another
2. introften foll byat to move or react quickly
3. tr to jump over
4. to come into prominence rapidly

   the thought leapt into his mind

5. tr to cause (an animal, esp a horse) to jump a barrier

noun

1. the act of jumping
2. a spot from which a leap was or may be made
3. the distance of a leap
4. an abrupt change or increase
5. Also called (US and Canadian)skip music a relatively large melodic interval, esp in a solo part
6. a leap in the dark
   an action performed without knowledge of the consequences
7. by leaps and bounds
   with unexpectedly rapid progress

Derived Forms

• ˈleaper, noun

Other Words From

• leaper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of leap¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English lepen, Old English hlēapan “to leap, run”; cognate with German laufen, Old Norse hlaupa, Gothic hlaupan

Word History and Origins

Origin of leap¹

Old English hlēapan; related to Gothic hlaupan, German laufen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by leaps and bounds, very rapidly:

   We are progressing by leaps and bounds.

2. leap in the dark, an action of which the consequences are unknown:

   The experiment was a leap in the dark.

3. leap of faith, an act or instance of accepting or trusting in something that cannot readily be seen or proved.

More idioms and phrases containing leap

• by leaps and bounds
• look before you leap
• quantum leap
• jump

Synonym Study

See jump.

Example Sentences

Peter Christopherson made the leap to life on the bandstand and became a pioneer in the industrial music genre.

From The Daily Beast

Another common prank was to spin the cannon in the direction of the major, causing him to leap out of the way.

From The Daily Beast

Hot orange flames leap into the sky bringing with them the sickening, inescapable stench of death.

From The Daily Beast

It was a small step in learning to stick to my guns, but a leap in my comprehension of phonetics.

From The Daily Beast

But in this case the leap from the known to the unknown is extreme.

From The Daily Beast

She would let him run about for a few moments and then she would leap upon him as if she had nearly lost him.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly his quick eye lit on something in the gravel path and his heart gave a great leap.

From Project Gutenberg

I sprang forward to leap after her, but hands grasped me and flung me back so violently that I fell down on the platform.

From Project Gutenberg

This had the effect of causing the fourth lion to break cover and leap upon a rock as the first had done.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus age and avarice can always over-leap barriers which, to the young and romantic, are insurmountable.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ascend
• bounce
• bound
• hop
• rise
• rocket
• skip
• soar
• surge
• vault