leap

noun countable

UK /liːp/

Word Forms

singular	leap
plural	leaps

1
a jump, especially one that is long or high
a record-breaking leap of 2.04 metres
a flying leap (=high into the air):
The angry monkey crossed the cage with a flying leap.
Synonyms and related words
A jump, or the action of jumping
jump
hop
leap
2
a sudden increase or improvement
leap in:
a huge leap in the price of fuel
Synonyms and related words
Rates of increase and the process of increasing
uptick
increase
growth
Synonyms and related words
Improvement and improvements
improvement
gain
quantum leap
3
a big change in the way that you think or in what you do
Most publishing companies have made the leap into multimedia.
Moving to a place where I knew no one was a big leap for me.
Synonyms and related words
A change of opinion
about-turn
climb-down
shift

phrases

by/in leaps and bounds

a leap in the dark

a leap of faith

leap

noun countable

US /lip/

Word Forms

singular	leap
plural	leaps

1
a jump, especially one that is long or high
a record-breaking leap of 2.04 meters
a flying leap (=high into the air):
The angry monkey crossed the cage with a flying leap.
Synonyms and related words
A jump, or the action of jumping
jump
hop
leap
2
a sudden increase or improvement
leap in:
a huge leap in the price of gasoline
Synonyms and related words
Rates of increase and the process of increasing
uptick
increase
growth
Synonyms and related words
Improvement and improvements
improvement
a change for the better/worse
development
3
a big change in the way that you think or in what you do
Moving to a place where I knew no one was a big leap for me.
Most publishing companies have made the leap into multimedia.
Synonyms and related words
A change of opinion
about-face
reappraisal
shift

phrases

by/in leaps and bounds

a leap in the dark

a leap of faith

leap

verb

UK /liːp/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	leap
he/she/it	leaps
present participle	leaping
past tense	leaped or leapt
past participle	leaped or leapt

1
intransitive to move somewhere suddenly and quickly
She leapt to her feet (=suddenly stood up) when she saw me.
leap into/out of/from something:
The suspect was seen leaping into a car and speeding off.
He leapt out of bed.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
2
intransitive to jump into the air or over a long distance
People were forced to leap to safety from the burning building.
leap into/from/onto:
She leapt into the air with joy.
Synonyms and related words
To jump, or to move in the air
jump
bound
leap
1. 2a
  transitive to jump over something
  The horse leapt the fence and galloped off down the track.
  Synonyms and related words
  To jump, or to move in the air
  jump
  bound
  leap
3
intransitive to suddenly improve, increase, or progress
Sales have leapt 43% this quarter.
Synonyms and related words
To make progress, or to achieve something
progress
get on with
get ahead
Synonyms and related words
To become better
improve
recover
look up
4
intransitive to suddenly change to another time or situation, for example in a film
The action then leaps forward to 1989, when Rose is an elderly woman.
Synonyms and related words
To become different
change
turn into
change into

phrases

leap at the chance/opportunity/offer

leap into action

leap off the page

leap to someone’s defence

phrasal verbs

leap in

leap on

leap out at

leap

verb

US /lip/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	leap
he/she/it	leaps
present participle	leaping
past tense	leaped or leapt
past participle	leaped or leapt

1
intransitive to move somewhere suddenly and quickly
She leaped to her feet (=suddenly stood up) when she saw me.
leap into/out of/from something:
The suspect was seen leaping into a car and speeding off.
He leaped out of bed.
Synonyms and related words
To move somewhere quickly
fly
hasten
speed
2
intransitive to jump into the air or over a long distance
People were forced to leap to safety from the burning building.
leap into/from/onto:
She leaped into the air with joy.
Synonyms and related words
To jump, or to move in the air
jump
bound
leap
1. 2a
  transitive to jump over something
  The horse leapt the fence and galloped off down the track.
  Synonyms and related words
  To jump, or to move in the air
  jump
  bound
  leap
3
intransitive to suddenly improve, increase, or progress
Sales have leaped 43% this quarter.
Synonyms and related words
To make progress, or to achieve something
progress
get on with
get ahead
Synonyms and related words
To become better
improve
recover
look up
4
intransitive to suddenly change to another time or situation, for example in a movie
The action then leaps forward to 1989, when Rose is an elderly woman.
Synonyms and related words
To become different
transition
change
turn into

phrases

leap at the chance/opportunity/offer

leap into action

leap off the page

leap to someone’s defense

phrasal verbs

leap in

leap on

leap out at

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