leap

1 of 3

verb

ˈlēp How to pronounce leap (audio)
leaped or leapt ˈlēpt How to pronounce leap (audio)
also
ˈlept How to pronounce leap (audio) ; leaping ˈlē-piŋ How to pronounce leap (audio)
Synonyms of leapnext

intransitive verb

1
: to spring free from or as if from the ground : jump
leap over a fence
a fish leaps out of the water
2
a
: to pass abruptly from one state or topic to another
the difficult leap from college to the workplace
b
: to act precipitately
leaped at the chance

transitive verb

: to pass over by leaping
leaped the wall
leaper
ˈlē-pər How to pronounce leap (audio)
noun

leap

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
a
: an act of leaping : spring, bound
b(1)
: a place leaped over or from
(2)
: the distance covered by a leap
2
a
: a sudden passage or transition
a great leap forward
b
: a choice made in an area of ultimate concern
a leap of faith
see also:
by leaps and bounds

leaper

3 of 3

noun (2)

leap·​er -pə(r) How to pronounce leaper (audio)
plural -s
: one that leaps
specifically : a circus performer who does acrobatic jumps

Synonyms of leap

Relevance

Verb

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of leap in a Sentence

Verb The cat suddenly leaped into the air. Fish were leaping out of the water. He leaped off the bridge. The boys leaped over the stream. The horse leaped the stone wall. When the alarm went off, she leapt out of bed. Noun (1) She made a graceful leap into the air. He ran and took a flying leap over the stream. He won the high jump with a leap of six feet. the leap from childhood to adulthood She has shown great leaps in ability. Technology has taken a great leap forward. It required a leap of the imagination to picture how the project would look when it was completed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Padres left fielder Jase Bowen retreated to the ivy and made a leaping catch. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026 The Germans were crawling as far as the street, dashing across the asphalt, then leaping into the second trench. — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Noun
This season, without having their best young players locked up long-term, the Ducks took a massive leap forward as a team. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 1 July 2026 This show, with a 40-page monologue and a large degree of audience interaction, is a big leap for her first time on Broadway. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for leap

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English lepere one that leaps, one that runs, from Old English hlēapere dancer, courier, from hlēapan to run, jump, leap + -ere -er

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of leap was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing leap

Rhymes for leap

See All Rhymes for leap

Browse Nearby Words

Lea oak
leap
leap at
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

leap

1 of 2 verb
ˈlēp How to pronounce leap (audio)
leapt ˈlēpt How to pronounce leap (audio)
also
ˈlept How to pronounce leap (audio) or leaped; leaping ˈlē-piŋ How to pronounce leap (audio)
1
: to spring or cause to spring free from or as if from the ground : jump
leap over a fence
2
a
: to pass suddenly from one state or topic to another
b
: to act hastily
I'd leap at the chance
leaper
ˈlē-pər How to pronounce leap (audio)
noun

leap

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: an act of leaping : spring, bound
b
: a place leaped over or from
c
: the distance covered by a leap
2
: a sudden change of state

More from Merriam-Webster on leap

Nglish: Translation of leap for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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