leap

[liːp]

leap Definition

• 1. to jump high or a long way
• 2. to make a sudden movement or change
• 3. to act quickly or decisively

Using leap: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "leap" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The athlete leaped over the hurdle.

• Example

  The cat leaped off the table.

• Example

  She leaped at the opportunity to work abroad.

• Example

  The company's profits leaped by 50% this year.

leap Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for leap

• jump
• bound
• vault
• spring
• hop

Antonyms for leap

• crawl
• creep
• inch
• tiptoe
• nudge

Idioms Using leap

• leap out of one's skin

  to be extremely startled or surprised

  Example

  When the fire alarm went off, I nearly leaped out of my skin.

• leap to conclusions

  to form an opinion or make a judgment without enough information or evidence

  Example

  Don't leap to conclusions about what happened. We need to investigate further.

• make the leap

  to take a big step or make a significant change

  Example

  Moving to a new country was scary, but I knew I had to make the leap to pursue my dreams.

Phrases with leap

• leap of faith

  an act of believing in or attempting something whose existence or outcome cannot be proved

  Example

  Starting a business is always a leap of faith.

• quantum leap

  a sudden and significant improvement or advance in something

  Example

  The new technology represents a quantum leap in computer processing power.

• take a leap

  to take a risk or make a big decision

  Example

  I decided to take a leap and quit my job to start my own business.

Origins of leap

from Old English 'hlēapan', meaning 'to jump, run, leap'

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Summary: leap in Brief

The verb 'leap' [liːp] refers to jumping high or far, making sudden movements or changes, or acting quickly. It can describe physical actions like 'The athlete leaped over the hurdle,' or figurative ones like 'The company's profits leaped by 50% this year.' 'Leap' also appears in phrases like 'leap of faith,' which denotes belief in something unprovable, and idioms like 'leap to conclusions,' meaning to judge without enough evidence.