leap
verb
\ ˈlēp
\
\
leaped
or leapt\ ˈlēpt
also ˈlept
\;
leaping\ ˈlē-piŋ
\
also ˈlept
\;
leaping\ ˈlē-piŋ
\
Definition of leap
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to spring free from or as if from the ground : jump
leap over a fence a fish leaps out of the water
2a
: 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
: to pass over by leaping
leaped the wall
leap
nounDefinition of leap (Entry 2 of 2)
b(1)
: a place leaped over or from
(2)
: the distance covered by a leap
2a
: a sudden passage or transition
a great leap forward
b
: a choice made in an area of ultimate concern
a leap of faith
by leaps and bounds
: with extraordinary rapidity
a town growing by leaps and bounds
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Other Words from leap
Verb
leaper
\ ˈlē-pər
\
noun
\
noun
Synonyms for leap
Synonyms: Verb
bound, hop, jump, spring, vault
Synonyms: Noun
bound, hop, jump, spring, vault
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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
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: Verb
The Asian American voting-age population has more than doubled in the past two decades, leaping from 4.3 million in 1998 to 11.1 million in 2018 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. — Terry Tang, The Denver Post, "Trump’s fake accent angers Asian Americans as they veer left," 22 Aug. 2019 The Asian American voting-age population has more than doubled in the past two decades, leaping from 4.3 million in 1998 to 11.1 million in 2018 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. — Washington Post, "Trump’s fake accent angers Asian Americans as they veer left," 21 Aug. 2019 Atlanta -- Police say a man exposed himself to a housekeeper at an Atlanta hotel and died trying to escape security by leaping between balconies, CBS Atlanta affiliate WGCL-TV reports. — CBS News, "Fleeing man leaps between hotel balconies and plunges to his death at Atlanta Hyatt Regency," 20 Aug. 2019 Authorities say a man exposed himself to a housekeeper at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta hotel and died while trying to escape hotel security by leaping between balconies, CBS News reports. — Ricky Pinela, orlandosentinel.com, "Man flashes housekeeper, leaps between hotel balconies and falls to his death: report," 20 Aug. 2019 After videos surfaced of Redskins cornerback Josh Norman leaping over bulls this summer, Lawrence began hoping Marinelli will add Norman to the bull animations this season. — Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, "How Rod Marinelli uses 'madness' to ‘demand greatness’ from Dallas Cowboys D," 8 Aug. 2019 Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff found immediate trouble in the first inning when Jesse Winker led off with a double to right-center and Joey Votto lined a single to left that tipped off the glove of leaping third baseman Mike Moustakas. — Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Reds 1, Brewers 0: Once again, no fireworks for the offense against Cincinnati pitchers," 4 July 2019 Her high header easily got over the outstretch arm of leaping English keeper Carly Telford at the near post. — Kevin Baxter, latimes.com, "Women’s World Cup: U.S. defeats England with Megan Rapinoe sidelined," 2 July 2019 The Metropolitan Police force said that two officers were trying to pull over a van in east London when a man leapt out and stabbed one police officer several times. — Washington Post, "London police officer seriously hurt in machete attack," 8 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
After working in a salon on The Hill in Boulder for a few months, Bowen decided to make the leap and start her own business in March 2017. — Sarah Kuta, The Know, "A new generation of Denver nail salons are booking up months in advance for Instagram-worthy nail art," 5 Sep. 2019 The picturesque Catskills location is a favorite among cliff jumpers who take the 24-foot leap into the waters below. — Char Adams, PEOPLE.com, "20-Year-Old Aspiring West Point Cadet Falls to His Death from Rocky Cliff at Popular Diving Site," 3 Sep. 2019 But the big question is whether the offense will take another leap under third-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. — Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, "Why the Chicago Bears should be the favorites to win NFC North this year," 2 Sep. 2019 Videos and pictures posted online show people taking epic leaps of faith — some at heights over 50 feet. — Fox News, "West Point cadet falls to death at popular cliff-diving location," 2 Sep. 2019 The evolutionary leap can be a way to save a lineage if players are having a rough time. — Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, "Review: ‘Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey’ brings a different past to life," 30 Aug. 2019 The big leap of faith in my life has been moving here and continuing my modeling journey with my twin sister. — Vogue, "Daniel Arnold Photographs the Boundless Creativity of Afropunk," 26 Aug. 2019 Meanwhile, 6-foot-6, 240-pound freshman tight end Baylor Cupp of Brock, Texas, has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.55 seconds and has a 36-inch vertical leap — signs that point to a bright future in Fisher’s offense. — Edgar Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, "2019 College Football Rankings: No. 10 Texas A&M trending up under Jimbo Fisher," 15 Aug. 2019 After the run, the round-off, and the back handspring, Biles translates her forward motion into a leap into the air. — Adam Rogers, WIRED, "The Biomechanical Perfection of Simone Biles in Flight," 13 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leap.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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