long jump

¹ American  

noun

Track and Field.

1. a jump for distance from a running start.

2. a field event featuring competition in the long jump.

---

long-jump ² American  

[lawng-juhmp, long-] / ˈlɔŋˌdʒʌmp, ˈlɒŋ- /

verb (used without object)

1. Track and Field. to execute a long jump.

---

long jump British  

noun

1. Former Austral, US, and Canadian equivalent: broad jump.  an athletic contest in which competitors try to cover the farthest distance possible with a running jump from a fixed board or mark

---

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

• long jumping noun

Etymology

Origin of long jump

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Return of the Champ: Toby Ojo, West Torrance Sophomore makes his season debut at the Torrance City Champs Meet and captures the varsity long jump crown!

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

She burst on to the international scene at 18 with long jump silver at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, and set a British record on her Olympic debut in Rome in 1960.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

In the long jump, Rand broke the British and Olympic records with her first leap of 6.59m and then smashed the world record on her fifth attempt with an effort of 6.76m.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Lucy Hadaway won the women's long jump with a leap of 6.45m, while Tito Odunaike was victorious in the men's triple jump with a mark of 15.45m.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

With one long jump, my brother flattened our castle.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter