leap

[ leep ]

/ lip /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR leap ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing.

to spring through the air from one point or position to another; jump: to leap over a ditch.

to move or act quickly or suddenly: to leap aside; She leaped at the opportunity.

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, leap·ing.

to jump over: to leap a fence.

to pass over as if by a jump.

to cause to leap: to leap a horse.

noun

a spring, jump, or bound; a light, springing movement.

the distance covered in a leap; distance jumped.

a place leaped or to be leaped over or from.

a sudden or abrupt transition: a successful leap from piano class to concert hall.

a sudden and decisive increase: a leap in the company's profits.

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Here is our second set of teacher-selected PSAT vocabulary words. Do you know the meanings of these terms?

Question 1 of 10

advocate

to give up possession or occupancy of.

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for leap

by leaps and bounds, very rapidly: We are progressing by leaps and bounds.

leap in the dark, an action of which the consequences are unknown: The experiment was a leap in the dark.

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

Origin of leap

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

SYNONYMS FOR leap

1 bound. See jump.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR leap ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM leap

leap·er, noun

Words nearby leap

leangle, leaning, leaning tower of pisa, leaning tower of pisa, the, leant, leap, leap day, leap in the dark, leap of faith, leap second, leap year

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for leap in the dark

leap

/ (liːp) /

verb leaps, leaping, leapt or leaped

(intr) to jump suddenly from one place to another

(intr often foll by at) to move or react quickly

(tr) to jump over

to come into prominence rapidlythe thought leapt into his mind

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

noun

the act of jumping

a spot from which a leap was or may be made

the distance of a leap

an abrupt change or increase

Also called (US and Canadian): skip music a relatively large melodic interval, esp in a solo part

a leap in the dark an action performed without knowledge of the consequences

by leaps and bounds with unexpectedly rapid progress

Derived forms of leap

leaper, noun

Word Origin for leap

Old English hlēapan; related to Gothic hlaupan, German laufen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with leap in the dark (1 of 2)

leap in the dark

An act whose results cannot be predicted. For example, Given today's high divorce rate, he considered marriage a leap in the dark. [Late 1600s]

Idioms and Phrases with leap in the dark (2 of 2)

leap

In addition to the idioms beginning with leap

leap in the dark
leap of faith

also see:

by leaps and bounds
look before you leap
quantum leap

Also see underjump.

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

leap

verb (used without object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing.

verb (used with object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing.

noun

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Idioms for leap

Origin of leap

SYNONYMS FOR leap

OTHER WORDS FROM leap

Words nearby leap

British Dictionary definitions for leap in the dark

verb leaps, leaping, leapt or leaped

noun

Derived forms of leap

Word Origin for leap

Idioms and Phrases with leap in the dark (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with leap in the dark (2 of 2)

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

leap

verb (used without object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing.

verb (used with object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing.

noun

QUIZZES

TAKE ROUND 2 OF OUR PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ!

Idioms for leap

Origin of leap

SYNONYMS FOR leap

OTHER WORDS FROM leap

Words nearby leap

Words related to leap in the dark

British Dictionary definitions for leap in the dark

verb leaps, leaping, leapt or leaped

noun

Derived forms of leap

Word Origin for leap

Idioms and Phrases with leap in the dark (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with leap in the dark (2 of 2)