leap

[ leep ]

/ lip /

See synonyms for: leap / leaped / leaping / leapt on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), leaped or leapt [lept, leept], /lɛpt, lipt/, 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 [lept, leept], /lɛpt, lipt/, 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.

SYNONYMS FOR leap

1 bound.

See synonyms for leap on Thesaurus.com

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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

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

synonym study for leap

1. See jump.

OTHER WORDS FROM leap

leaper, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for leap

A boy in shorts kicked the game ball into the goal, then leaped in celebration.
Why Americans Should Love the World Cup|Sean Wilsey|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Once Ranbaxy got FDA approval, it leaped straight into making commercial-size batches without any meaningful dry runs.
Those Generic Drugs May Not Have Been What You Thought They Were|Megan McArdle|May 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Top Gun director Tony Scott leaped to his death off a Los Angeles bridge on Sunday.
Director Tony Scott’s Death Seen as Suicide After He Leaped From Bridge|Christine Pelisek|August 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Gadell leaped for cover behind a stoop and shot back, emptying his .38-caliber Smith Wesson.
‘Glock’ by Paul Barrett: Interview and Excerpt|The Daily Beast|January 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Deng leaped from a California commuter college to the Yale School of Management.
Wendi Murdoch’s Pie Smackdown|Samuel P. Jacobs|July 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Then without further hesitation I leaped out of bed and indignantly rushed to the window, but only on opening it to find him gone.
Brownsmith's Boy|George Manville Fenn
Patricia's heart stopped beating for a moment and then it leaped to her throat.
Miss Pat at Artemis Lodge|Pemberton Ginther
All that eventful day our story began with had leaped into the foreground of his mind.
Somehow Good|William de Morgan
Here, on a narrow strip of sand, he undressed and leaped into the waves.
Deep Down, a Tale of the Cornish Mines|R.M. Ballantyne
She wrote lines that leaped with laughter and words that were wet with tears.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 12 (of 12)|Robert G. Ingersoll

British Dictionary definitions for leap

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

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.

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leap

verb (used without object), leaped or leapt [lept, leept], /lɛpt, lipt/, leap·ing.

verb (used with object), leaped or leapt [lept, leept], /lɛpt, lipt/, leap·ing.

noun

SYNONYMS FOR leap

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LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Idioms for leap

Origin of leap

synonym study for leap

OTHER WORDS FROM leap

Example sentences from the Web for leap

British Dictionary definitions for leap

verb leaps, leaping, leapt or leaped

noun

Derived forms of leap

Word Origin for leap

Idioms and Phrases with leap

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

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WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

leap

verb (used without object), leaped or leapt [lept, leept], /lɛpt, lipt/, leap·ing.

verb (used with object), leaped or leapt [lept, leept], /lɛpt, lipt/, leap·ing.

noun

SYNONYMS FOR leap

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Idioms for leap

Origin of leap

synonym study for leap

OTHER WORDS FROM leap

Words related to leap

Example sentences from the Web for leap

British Dictionary definitions for leap

verb leaps, leaping, leapt or leaped

noun

Derived forms of leap

Word Origin for leap

Idioms and Phrases with leap