long jump
1 Americannoun
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long jumps
plural
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a jump for distance from a running start.
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a field event featuring competition in the long jump.
verb (used without object)
noun
Usage
What is the long jump? The long jump is a track-and-field competition in which athletes attempt to complete the longest forward jump with a running start and a single leap. The long jump is sometimes also known as the broad jump. An attempt in this event (the jump itself) is also called a long jump. A competitor in the long jump is called a long jumper. Standard long jumps take place on a track with a running lane, a jumping area or takeoff board, and a sand pit to land in. The distance of the jump is measured from the edge of the takeoff board to the landing spot. The two main long jump techniques are the tuck (in which the long jumper pulls their knees upward and then extends them at the last second) and the hitch kick (in which the long jumper continues their running motion after they jump in the air and then brings their feet together and extends them in front of them). The long jump is a track-and-field event in the summer Olympic Games (the Summer Games) and it is also part of the modern decathlon. The long jump should not be confused with the high jump, which is a track-and-field (and decathlon) event in which athletes attempt to complete the highest jump over a crossbar. Like the long jump, the triple jump also begins with a running start, but (as the name implies) involves three jumping motions instead of the single leap used in the long jump. Example: I’m training for the long jump and the high jump with my track-and-field team.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of long jump
First recorded in 1880–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
There were also wins for Americans Alaysha Johnson in the 100m hurdles and Alyssa Jones in the long jump.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Streatfeild’s spring activity is track and field, where she competes in the 100-meter dash, long jump and both relays.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Benson competed in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600, long jump, shotput … and earned his award — a baton.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
Her personal best form continued in the long jump on Saturday morning with a leap of 6.55m, and a throw of 50.16m in the javelin took her overall total to 5,812 points.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Philip scored on a long jump shot from the side.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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Visually impaired parathletes share how they rely on sound and touch to know when to kick a soccer ball or when to time a long-jump leap.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2024
Long left Berlin as Olympic silver-medallist, national champion and European long-jump record holder.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2024
He was a long-jump specialist for years, and his biggest major success was an indoor 60-meter win at European champions.
From Fox News ● Aug. 1, 2021
While she ran and jumped, they played in the sand of the long-jump pit.
From New York Times ● Jul. 24, 2020
Standing long-jump with weights, 14 feet 5½ inches, G. W. Hamilton, October 3, 1879; without weights, 10 feet 10½ inches, M. H.
From Golden Days for Boys and Girls Volume VIII, No 25: May 21, 1887 by James Elverson
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