Is there a difference in meaning between "jump off" and "jump?"
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Yes, there is a difference! "Jump" means simply to push oneself off a surface and into the air using your legs and then to land on the same surface again. To "jump off" means to push oneself using your legs and off of something so that you don't land on that surface again. So if you "jump" on a diving board, you will land on the diving board again. If you "jump off" a diving board, you will land in the pool. Ex: I'm going to jump off this rock and into the ocean. Ex: I'm jumping on the trampoline.