leapt

1.nounB2

Definition

A sudden and significant step forward in the level, quality, or amount of something, such as technology, business performance, or personal ability.

Example

The new battery technology represents a huge leap forward in electric car design.

collocation: leap forward (progress)

Moving from assistant to department head was a big leap in Mert's career.

collocation: big leap in (progress)

Common collocations

leap forward
quantum leap
giant leap
huge leap
leap in

Synonyms

jump
more general and can be physical or figurative; 'leap' often suggests a greater distance or impact
surge
suggests a powerful forward movement, often in amounts or numbers
breakthrough
emphasises overcoming a barrier or limitation

Antonyms

decline
a movement downward in level or quality
setback
an event that halts or reverses progress

Usage Note

Often used in the phrase 'leap forward' to describe progress, or 'quantum leap' for a very dramatic improvement.

Common Mistakes

The company made a big step forward.

The company made a big leap forward.

'leap' implies a sudden and large change; 'step' suggests a smaller, gradual one.

2.nounB1

Definition

An action in which a person, animal, or thing pushes off a surface and moves quickly through the air from one place to another.

Example

The deer cleared the fence with a single graceful leap.

collocation: with a ... leap (manner)

Lucía took a running leap and landed safely on the other side of the ditch.

collocation: running leap

Common collocations

running leap
flying leap
single leap
take a leap
clear with a leap

Synonyms

jump
the most common general word; leap is slightly more formal or dramatic
bound
a long, energetic jump, often with several in a row
vault
a jump over an obstacle using hands or a pole for support

3.nounB2

Definition

The physical distance or space that is travelled or crossed during a single jump.

Example

The athlete's winning leap measured two metres and thirty centimetres.

measured distance

A small leap of just half a metre was enough to cross the narrow stream.

Common collocations

leap of [distance]
winning leap
record leap
measured a leap

Synonyms

distance
a neutral word that does not specify the method of travel
span
the full extent covered, often used for bridges or arches

Usage Note

This sense is primarily used in sports and measurement contexts. Compare with JUMPING MOVE (sense 2), which describes the action itself rather than the distance covered.

leaptpresent simple I / you / we / they
leapts3rd person singular
leapting-ing form
leaptedpast simple

1.verbintransitiveB1

Definition

To push your body off the ground or another surface and move quickly through the air, often in order to reach a different place or clear an obstacle.

Example

Linh leapt over the low garden wall and ran after the dog.

leap + over + obstacle

The firefighter leapt from the burning balcony into the safety net below.

leap + from + [place] + into + [place]

Common collocations

leap over
leap across
leap from
leap into
leap onto
leap off
leap out of

Synonyms

jump
more common and less formal; 'leap' often implies a longer or more dramatic jump
spring
suggests a sudden, elastic movement
bound
implies a series of energetic leaps rather than a single one

Antonyms

land
to come down to the ground after movement
stay
to remain in place rather than moving

Grammar Patterns

leap + preposition (over/across/from/into/onto)

Usage Note

Frequently paired with prepositions such as over, across, from, into, onto, and off to specify direction or destination. 'Leapt' is the standard past-tense form in British English; 'leaped' is more common in American English.

Common Mistakes

He leaped over the fence' (American spelling only — 'leapt' is the standard British past tense).

He leapt over the fence.

both forms are correct, but 'leapt' is preferred in British writing.

2.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

To act immediately and with great urgency in order to offer help, protection, or support to someone in need.

Example

When the elderly woman slipped on the icy pavement, Sade leapt to her feet and rushed over to help.

leap to + possessive + feet (stand up quickly)

The lawyer leapt to the defendant's defence when the prosecutor made unfair remarks.

leap to someone's defence

Common collocations

leap to defence
leap to rescue
leap to aid
leap to help
leap to feet

Synonyms

rush
less dramatic; simply means to move quickly without the rescue connotation
spring
similar urgency but can be used more broadly

Antonyms

hesitate
to pause before acting, the opposite of immediate action

Grammar Patterns

leap to + noun (defence/aid/rescue/someone's side)

Usage Note

This sense is almost always used in fixed expressions such as 'leap to someone's defence', 'leap to the rescue', or 'leap to someone's aid'. It rarely appears outside these patterns.

3.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

To reach a state of widespread recognition, fame, or importance very suddenly, often because of a single achievement or event.

Example

The young singer leapt to fame overnight after her performance video was shared millions of times.

leap to fame

A small tech company leapt to prominence when its social media app became a global hit.

leap to prominence

Common collocations

leap to fame
leap to prominence
leap to stardom
leap into the spotlight

Synonyms

shoot
suggests a rapid rise; 'shoot to fame' is a common alternative
rocket
even stronger speed and force; 'rocket to stardom'

Antonyms

fade
to gradually become less famous or important

Grammar Patterns

leap to + noun (fame/prominence/attention/stardom)

Usage Note

Most common in the fixed expressions 'leap to fame' and 'leap to prominence'. The leap typically happens because of a single breakthrough event, not gradual effort.

4.verbintransitiveB2

Definition

To increase, rise, or grow by a very large amount in a short period of time, especially in price, value, temperature, or rate.

Example

House prices in the neighbourhood leapt by nearly thirty percent over the course of one year.

leap + by + percentage

The company's share price leapt after the announcement of a groundbreaking new product.

Common collocations

leap by
leap from...to
leap in price
leap in value

Synonyms

surge
suggests a powerful, often uncontrolled rise, especially in figures or emotions
soar
implies a continuous upward movement, not just sudden
rocket
very dramatic and rapid increase

Antonyms

plummet
to fall sharply and suddenly
drop
to go down in amount or level

Grammar Patterns

leap + by + amount

leap + from...to...

Usage Note

Typically used with numbers, percentages, or specific amounts to show the scale of increase.

Common Mistakes

Sales raised sharply.

Sales leapt sharply.

'raise' is transitive and needs an object; 'leap' is intransitive and correct here.

5.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

To move suddenly and without warning from one topic, state, condition, or situation to another that is very different.

Example

During the staff meeting, the manager leapt from discussing sales targets to criticising the office layout.

leap + from...to... (topic shift)

Ziad's mind leapt from worrying about his exam to remembering a funny joke his friend had told him.

Common collocations

leap from...to
leap between
leap ahead to

Synonyms

jump
the more common and less formal word for changing topic abruptly
switch
suggests a deliberate change rather than an uncontrolled one

Antonyms

ease
to move gradually and smoothly from one state to another
flow
to change naturally without abruptness

Grammar Patterns

leap + from + [state/topic] + to + [state/topic]

Usage Note

Often carries a mildly negative connotation suggesting a lack of logical connection. Contrast with SUDDEN FAME (sense 3), which describes a rise in status, not a change of state.

Word family

leap
verbB1
leap
nounB1
leaper
nounC1
leaping
adjectiveB2
leaped
verbB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

While 'leap', 'jump', 'spring', 'bound', and 'vault' all describe leaving the ground, they differ in force and manner. 'Jump' is the most common and neutral word — you can jump for joy, jump over a puddle, or jump up and down. 'Leap' implies a longer, more dramatic movement, often to clear an obstacle or reach a distant point; it is slightly more formal than 'jump'. 'Spring' suggests a sudden, elastic motion like a coiled release — a cat springs onto a table. 'Bound' describes a series of energetic, long steps rather than a single jump; rabbits and deer bound across fields. 'Vault' specifically means jumping over something using your hands or a pole for support. For example: 'Lin leapt over the wall' (dramatic, single effort), 'Pedro vaulted over the fence using both hands' (using support), and 'The children jumped on the trampoline' (repeated, casual).

jump ↗spring ↗bound ↗vault ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

'Leap' comes from Old English 'hlēapan', meaning 'to jump, run, or spring'. It shares roots with similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Old Norse 'hlaupa' and Old High German 'hlouffan'. The past-tense form 'leapt' (alongside 'leaped') dates back to Middle English. The figurative senses — such as leaping to fame or prices leaping upward — emerged in the 16th to 19th centuries as the word expanded beyond purely physical jumping.

First known use

12th century

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

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leapt

leapt — noun

1. A sudden and significant step forward in the level, quality, or amount of someth

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. An action in which a person, animal, or thing pushes off a surface and moves qui

3. The physical distance or space that is travelled or crossed during a single jump

Usage Note

leapt — verb

1. To push your body off the ground or another surface and move quickly through the

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. To act immediately and with great urgency in order to offer help, protection, or

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

3. To reach a state of widespread recognition, fame, or importance very suddenly, o

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

4. To increase, rise, or grow by a very large amount in a short period of time, esp

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

5. To move suddenly and without warning from one topic, state, condition, or situat

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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