Jump — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adverb /ˈjəmp/

Meaning & Definition of Jump

Jump (verb)

  1. to spring into the air, leap; especially, to spring free from the ground or other base by the muscular action of feet and legs
  2. to move suddenly or involuntarily, start
  3. to move energetically, hustle

Jump (noun)

  1. an act of jumping, leap
  2. any of several sports competitions featuring a leap, spring, or bound
  3. a leap in figure skating in which the skater leaves the ice with both feet and turns in the air

Jump (adverb)

  1. exactly, pat

Jump (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to propel oneself upward or forward into the air

    "jumped across the ditch"

    similar: bound, hop, leap, spring, vault
    related: bounce, hurdle, leapfrog, lope, skip, buck, caper, capriole, cavort, frolic, gambol, romp, attack, pounce, shoot, skyrocket

  2. to move suddenly and sharply (as in surprise)

    "the sudden appearance of a mouse scurrying across the floor made me jump"

    similar: bolt, start, startle
    related: jerk, jolt, twitch, blench, cringe, flinch, quail, recoil, shrink, spook, squinch, wince, bound, leap, spring, react, respond

  3. to proceed or move quickly

    "when I tell you to do something, I expect you to jump"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

Jump (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act of leaping into the air

    "took a small jump forward to avoid stepping in the puddle"

    similar: bound, hop, leap, spring, vault
    related: bounce, lope, skip, caper, capriole, gambado, gambol, attack, pounce, dive, pitch, plunge

  2. the more favorable condition or position in a competition

    "get a jump on the competition by starting early"

    similar: advantage, better, bulge, catbird seat, drop, edge, high ground, inside track, pull, stead, upper hand, vantage, whip hand, coign of vantage
    related: allowance, head start, lead, leg up, margin, odds, start, ascendancy, command, dominance, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, transcendency, precedence, preference, prerogative, privilege, seniority, break, foothold, opportunity, benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, manna, windfall
    opposite: disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability, minus, penalty, strike
    near: detriment, stranglehold, disparity, imbalance, inequality, unevenness, disability, failing, impairment, shortcoming, bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel, lurch, setback

Related Entry: Jump (on) (verb)

Jump (on) is a different word from Jump. The synonyms below are for jump (on), not for jump.

  1. to take sudden, violent action against

    "the robbers waited until he had passed by them and then jumped on him without warning"

    similar: assail, assault, attack, beset, bushwhack, charge, descend (on or upon), go in (on), pounce (on or upon), raid, rush, set on, sic, storm, strike, trash, turn (on), beat up on, fly at, go at, light into, pitch into, round on, set at, set upon, tear into
    related: bum-rush, gang up (on), mob, swarm, mug, rob, ambuscade, ambush, surprise, waylay, blitz, bomb, bombard, nuke, barrage, cannon, cannonade, bang away (at), batter, buffet, plaster, beleaguer, besiege, press, harry, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, foray, invade, overrun, envelop, flank
    near: cover, defend, guard, protect, secure, shield

  2. to criticize harshly and usually publicly

    "no need to jump on him just because he locked the keys in the car"

    similar: abuse, assail, attack, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, lambaste, potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate, beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into
    related: berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip, blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane, affront, insult, slur, asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down, libel, slander, traduce, vilify, chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, fulminate, lash (out)
    near: acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

Related Entry: Jump-start (verb)

Jump-start is a different word from Jump. The synonyms below are for jump-start, not for jump.

  1. to give life, vigor, or spirit to

    "an intentionally provocative comment that was supposed to jump-start the discussion"

    similar: amp (up), animate, brace, energize, enliven, fillip, fire, ginger (up), invigorate, jazz (up), juice up, liven (up), pep (up), quicken, spike, stimulate, vitalize, vivify, zip (up)
    related: arouse, awake, awaken, raise, rouse, stir, wake (up), activate, actuate, drive, impel, motivate, motive, move, propel, charge, electrify, galvanize, enkindle, excite, ferment, foment, incite, inflame, instigate, kindle, provoke, set off, spark, trigger, turn on, whip (up), abet, boost, buoy, cheer, embolden, fortify, hearten, infuse, inspire, lift, rally, steel, strengthen, reactivate, reanimate, reawake, reawaken, recharge, recreate, reenergize, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, reinvigorate, rejuvenate, rekindle, renew, restimulate, resurrect, resuscitate, revitalize, revive
    opposite: damp, dampen, deaden, dull, kill
    near: burn out, debilitate, do in, drain, enervate, enfeeble, exhaust, fag, fatigue, harass, kayo, knock out, sap, tucker (out), undermine, wash out, weaken, wear, wear out, weary, check, curb, inhibit, jade, quell, quench, repress, restrain, slow, still, stunt, suppress, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Related Entry: Jump ship (phrase)

Jump ship is a different word from Jump. The synonyms below are for jump ship, not for jump.

  1. to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another

    "He jumped ship when he found out the non-profit's founder was keeping much of the funding for himself."

    similar: defect (from), desert, rat (on), go back on, walk out on
    related: abandon, abdicate, abjure, apostatize, cut off, disown, forsake, quit, reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn, renege, depart, go, leave, withdraw
    near: adhere (to), cling (to), stick (to or with), cherish, cultivate, foster

Related Entry: Jump jet (noun)

Jump jet is a different word from Jump. The synonyms below are for jump jet, not for jump.

  1. as in fighter, bomber

    similar: bomber, fighter, torpedo bomber, warplane, aerospace plane, rocket plane, amphibian, seaplane, jet, jetliner, superjet, supersonic, supersonic transport, trijet, turbojet, turboprop, biplane, lightplane, tilt-rotor, towplane, trimotor, triplane, freighter, tanker, glider, sailplane, aerodyne, aircraft, air-cushion vehicle, airframe, airship, ship, tractor, airliner, air taxi, liner, aeroplane (chiefly British), airplane, plane

Related Entry: Jump jets (noun)

Jump jets is a different word from Jump. The synonyms below are for jump jets, not for jump.

  1. as in fighters, bombers

    similar: bombers, fighters, torpedo bombers, warplanes, aerospace planes, rocket planes, amphibians, seaplanes, jetliners, jets, superjets, supersonics, supersonic transports, trijets, turbojets, turboprops, biplanes, lightplanes, tilt-rotors, towplanes, trimotors, triplanes, freighters, tankers, gliders, sailplanes, aerodynes, aircraft, air-cushion vehicles, airframes, airships, ships, tractors, airliners, air taxis, liners, aeroplanes (chiefly British), airplanes, planes

Related Entry: Jump-started (verb)

Jump-started is a different word from Jump. The synonyms below are for jump-started, not for jump.

  1. to give life, vigor, or spirit to

    "an intentionally provocative comment that was supposed to jump-start the discussion"

    similar: amped (up), animated, braced, energized, enlivened, filliped, fired, gingered (up), invigorated, jazzed (up), juiced up, livened (up), pepped (up), quickened, spiked, stimulated, vitalized, vivified, zipped (up)
    related: aroused, awakened, awoke, raised, roused, stirred, woke (up), activated, actuated, drove, impelled, motivated, motived, moved, propelled, charged, electrified, galvanized, enkindled, excited, fermented, fomented, incited, inflamed, instigated, kindled, provoked, set off, sparked, triggered, turned on, whipped (up), abetted, boosted, buoyed, cheered, emboldened, fortified, heartened, infused, inspired, lifted, rallied, steeled, strengthened, reactivated, reanimated, reawakened, reawoke, recharged, recreated, reenergized, refreshed, refreshened, regenerated, reinvigorated, rejuvenated, rekindled, renewed, restimulated, resurrected, resuscitated, revitalized, revived
    opposite: damped, dampened, deadened, dulled, killed
    near: burned out, debilitated, did in, drained, enervated, enfeebled, exhausted, fagged, fatigued, harassed, kayoed, knocked out, sapped, tuckered (out), undermined, washed out, weakened, wearied, wore, wore out, checked, curbed, inhibited, jaded, quelled, quenched, repressed, restrained, slowed, stilled, stunted, suppressed, daunted, demoralized, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited

Related Entry: Jump-starts (verb)

Jump-starts is a different word from Jump. The synonyms below are for jump-starts, not for jump.

  1. to give life, vigor, or spirit to

    "an intentionally provocative comment that was supposed to jump-start the discussion"

    similar: amps (up), animates, braces, energizes, enlivens, fillips, fires, gingers (up), invigorates, jazzes (up), juices up, livens (up), peps (up), quickens, spikes, stimulates, vitalizes, vivifies, zips (up)
    related: arouses, awakens, awakes, raises, rouses, stirs, wakes (up), activates, actuates, drives, impels, motivates, motives, moves, propels, charges, electrifies, galvanizes, enkindles, excites, ferments, foments, incites, inflames, instigates, kindles, provokes, sets off, sparks, triggers, turns on, whips (up), abets, boosts, buoys, cheers, emboldens, fortifies, heartens, infuses, inspires, lifts, rallies, steels, strengthens, reactivates, reanimates, reawakens, reawakes, recharges, recreates, reenergizes, refreshens, refreshes, regenerates, reinvigorates, rejuvenates, rekindles, renews, restimulates, resurrects, resuscitates, revitalizes, revives
    opposite: dampens, damps, deadens, dulls, kills
    near: burns out, debilitates, does in, drains, enervates, enfeebles, exhausts, fags, fatigues, harasses, kayoes, knocks out, saps, tuckers (out), undermines, washes out, weakens, wearies, wears, wears out, checks, curbs, inhibits, jades, quells, quenches, represses, restrains, slows, stills, stunts, suppresses, daunts, demoralizes, discourages, disheartens, dispirits

Related Entry: Jump-starting (verb)

Jump-starting is a different word from Jump. The synonyms below are for jump-starting, not for jump.

  1. to give life, vigor, or spirit to

    "an intentionally provocative comment that was supposed to jump-start the discussion"

    similar: amping (up), animating, bracing, energizing, enlivening, filliping, firing, gingering (up), invigorating, jazzing (up), juicing up, livening (up), pepping (up), quickening, spiking, stimulating, vitalizing, vivifying, zipping (up)
    related: arousing, awakening, awaking, raising, rousing, stirring, waking (up), activating, actuating, driving, impelling, motivating, motiving, moving, propelling, charging, electrifying, galvanizing, enkindling, exciting, fermenting, fomenting, inciting, inflaming, instigating, kindling, provoking, setting off, sparking, triggering, turning on, whipping (up), abetting, boosting, buoying, cheering, emboldening, fortifying, heartening, infusing, inspiring, lifting, rallying, steeling, strengthening, reactivating, reanimating, reawakening, reawaking, recharging, recreating, reenergizing, refreshening, refreshing, regenerating, reinvigorating, rejuvenating, rekindling, renewing, restimulating, resurrecting, resuscitating, revitalizing, reviving
    opposite: dampening, damping, deadening, dulling, killing
    near: burning out, debilitating, doing in, draining, enervating, enfeebling, exhausting, fagging, fatiguing, harassing, kayoing, knocking out, sapping, tuckering (out), undermining, washing out, weakening, wearing, wearing out, wearying, checking, curbing, inhibiting, jading, quelling, quenching, repressing, restraining, slowing, stilling, stunting, suppressing, daunting, demoralizing, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Jump

The most common words with a similar meaning to Jump:

Slang: bomb
bound, hop, leap, spring, vault, bolt, start, startle, barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, motor, nip

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Jump

Words with the opposite meaning of Jump:

crawl, creep, poke, disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability, minus, penalty, strike

Related Words for Jump

bounce, hurdle, leapfrog, lope, skip, buck, caper, capriole, cavort, frolic, gambol, romp, attack, pounce, skyrocket, jerk, jolt, twitch, blench, cringe, flinch, quail, recoil, shrink, spook, squinch, wince, react, respond, beetle

Near Antonyms of Jump

dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up), detriment, stranglehold, disparity, imbalance, inequality, unevenness, disability, failing, impairment, shortcoming, bar, catch, check

Word Forms of Jump

Inflections: jumped, jumping, jumps

Origin & Etymology of Jump

probably akin to Low German gumpen to jump

First known use: 1530i

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Jump

Words & Phrases Containing Jump

jump bail, jump ball, jump boot, jump cut, jump hook, jump jet, jump-off

Frequently Asked Questions about Jump

What does "Jump" mean?

"Jump" means to spring into the air, leap; especially, to spring free from the ground or other base by the muscular action of feet and legs. As an a verb, a noun and an adverb, it is defined as: to spring into the air, leap; especially, to spring free from the ground or other base by the muscular action of feet and legs. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Jump"?

Other words for "Jump" include bound, hop, leap, spring, vault, bolt, start and startle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Jump" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Jump"?

There are 167 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Jump". Common alternatives include bound, hop, leap, spring, vault, bolt, start, startle, barrel and belt.

What is the opposite of "Jump"?

Antonyms of "Jump" include crawl, creep, poke, disadvantage, drawback, handicap, liability and minus. Near antonyms include dally, dawdle, dillydally and drag.

How do you use "Jump" in a sentence?

Examples of "Jump" in a sentence: "jumped across the ditch"; "the sudden appearance of a mouse scurrying across the floor made me jump"; "when I tell you to do something, I expect you to jump".

Is "Jump" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Jump" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Jump" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Jump" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Jump"?

"Jump" is pronounced /ˈjəmp/.