Leap — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈlēp/

Meaning & Definition of Leap

Leap (verb)

  1. to spring free from or as if from the ground, jump
  2. to pass abruptly from one state or topic to another
  3. to act precipitately

Leap (noun)

  1. an act of leaping, spring, bound
  2. a place leaped over or from
  3. the distance covered by a leap

Leap (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an act of leaping into the air

    "the horse cleared the hurdle with a tremendous leap"

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

Leap (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to propel oneself upward or forward into the air

    "the outfielder leaped into the air to catch the ball before it went over the fence"

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

Related Entry: Quantum leap (noun)

Quantum leap is a different word from Leap. The synonyms below are for quantum leap, not for leap.

  1. a sudden large change or improvement

    "Prices have taken a quantum leap upward."

    "The new drug is a quantum leap in the fight against cancer."

    similar: amelioration, boost, heightening, increase, melioration, strengthening, upgrade, uplift, upswing, uptrend, upturn, advance, advancement, breakthrough, enhancement, refinement, betterment, development, elaboration, evolution, expansion, gestation, growth, maturation, perfection, ripening, civilization, edification, education, enlightenment, renaissance, renascence, revival, discovery, find, windfall, innovation, invention
    opposite: breakdown, collapse, crash, hindrance, impediment, stumbling block, decadence, decay, declension, decline, decrease, degeneration, descent, deterioration, diminishment, downgrade, ebbing, failing, flagging, languishment, lapse, lessening, reduction, sinking, slowing, weakening, worsening, detriment, disablement, drawback, glitch, impairment, shortcoming, setback

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Leap

The most common words with a similar meaning to Leap:

bound, hop, jump, spring, vault

Related Words for Leap

bounce, lope, skip, caper, capriole, gambado, gambol, attack, pounce, dive, pitch, plunge, hurdle, leapfrog, buck, cavort, frolic, romp, shoot, skyrocket

Word Forms of Leap

Inflections: leaped, leapt, leaping

Derived words: leaper (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Leap

Middle English lepen, from Old English hlēapan; akin to Old High German hlouffan to run

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Leap

Words & Phrases Containing Leap

leap second, leap year, leap at, leap into action, leap out at, leap to one's feet, leap to someone's defense, quantum leap

Frequently Asked Questions about Leap

What does "Leap" mean?

"Leap" means to spring free from or as if from the ground, jump. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to spring free from or as if from the ground, jump. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Leap"?

Other words for "Leap" include bound, hop, jump, spring and vault. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Leap" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Leap"?

There are 25 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Leap". Common alternatives include bound, hop, jump, spring and vault.

How do you use "Leap" in a sentence?

Examples of "Leap" in a sentence: "the horse cleared the hurdle with a tremendous leap"; "the outfielder leaped into the air to catch the ball before it went over the fence".

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

"Leap" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

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

As a C1-level word, "Leap" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Leap"?

"Leap" is pronounced /ˈlēp/.

What is the origin of the word "Leap"?

"Leap" comes from Middle English lepen, from Old English hlēapan; akin to Old High German hlouffan to run. First known use: before 12th centuryi.