Leap
/liːp/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo jump or spring a long way, often with a sudden movement.
/liːp/
To jump or spring a long way.
He leaped across the creek.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to get to the other side of a puddle. You *leap* over it, using a big jump! It's like when you jump really far to grab a toy or catch a ball.
👶 For kids: To jump far or high, like a bunny!
More Examples
The salmon leaped out of the water.
She leaped for joy when she heard the good news.
How It's Used
"The athlete leaped over the hurdle with ease."
"The frog leaped into the pond."
To increase dramatically or quickly; to make a large advance.
/liːp/
To make a sudden significant change or increase.
The stock market leaped today.
💡 Simply: Imagine your progress bar on a game suddenly jumping ahead a lot! That's a *leap*. Think of it as a big step forward, a huge jump in the right direction, like the way you level up in a video game. Your grades might take a *leap* if you start studying a lot.
👶 For kids: To grow or get better quickly, like when you suddenly get taller!
More Examples
Innovation has leaped forward in recent years.
Her career leaped to a new level.
How It's Used
"The company's profits leaped after the new marketing campaign."
"The technology leaped forward with the invention of the smartphone."
An act of jumping or springing a long way.
/liːp/
A jump or bound.
The athlete's leap won him the gold medal.
💡 Simply: Imagine you’re seeing someone do a big jump. The actual jump itself is called a *leap*! It's the act of jumping a long distance, like a dance move or when a basketball player scores a point. A sudden step can also be seen as a *leap*.
👶 For kids: When you jump far or high – that's a leap!
More Examples
He made a leap of faith.
The building was constructed in a single leap.
How It's Used
"The long jump requires a powerful leap."
"It was a giant leap for mankind."
A sudden and significant increase or improvement.
/liːp/
A sudden significant change or increase.
The company took a leap into the global market.
💡 Simply: It's like a big step forward or a huge jump, like when your video game character goes up many levels at once. A *leap* means a big improvement or a sudden change in the right direction. Your new science project could mean a *leap* in your grades.
👶 For kids: A big change for the better, like growing up fast!
More Examples
The discovery was a giant leap for science.
This new software represents a leap in productivity.
How It's Used
"The new product represented a significant leap in technology."
"This discovery was a leap forward in research."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
a leap of faith
An act of believing in or doing something, even though it is risky or there is no clear proof that it will be successful.
"She took a leap of faith and quit her job to start her own business."
leap out at someone
To be very noticeable or obvious.
"The bright colors of the painting leap out at you."
From Old English *hlēapan* 'to jump, run, dance'. Related to Dutch *lopen* and German *laufen*, all tracing back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'to run, jump'.
The word 'leap' has been used since Old English, initially referring to physical movement, and gradually extending to figurative uses of sudden change or progress.
Memory tip
Think of a leaping frog – a big, sudden jump!
Word Origin
"to run, jump"