leapverb [ I + adv/prep ]
uk/liːp/us/liːp/leaped or leapt, leaped or leaptleap verb [ I + adv/prep ] (MOVE SUDDENLY)
C2 to make a large jump or sudden movement, usually from one place to another:
He leaped out of his car and ran towards the house.
I leaped up to answer the phone.
The dog leaped over the gate into the field.
More examples
- He remembered the old adage 'look before you leap'.
- He leaped across the river.
- She leaped up to help him.
- When the bell rang, she leaped to the door.
- She leaped onto the chair.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making short, sudden movements
- aquiver
- convulse
- convulsion
- convulsive
- cringe
- flick
- jerky
- jig
- jiggle
- jolt
- judder
- palpitate
- pull away
- quiver
- shivery
- shrink
- tremulous
- whip
- worry at sth
- wriggle
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leap verb [ I + adv/prep ] (HAPPEN SUDDENLY)
to provide help, protection, etc. very quickly:
He leaped to his friend's defence.
Scott leapt to the rescue when he spotted the youngster in difficulty.
Mr Davies leaped in to explain.
to achieve something suddenly, usually fame, power, or importance:
He leapt to fame after his appearance in a Broadway play.
to increase, improve, or grow very quickly:
Shares in the company leaped 250 percent.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Helping and co-operating
- a good/bad turn idiom
- abet
- aid
- assist
- assistance
- avail
- bridge
- facilitate
- give sb a leg up idiom
- give/lend sb a helping hand idiom
- go a long way toward(s) doing sth idiom
- hang
- platform
- reach
- run errands idiom
- scene
- see sb through sth
- share a platform idiom
- start sb off
- succour
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Succeeding, achieving and fulfilling
Increasing and intensifying
Phrasal verb(s)
leap at sth
leap out at sb
leapnoun [ C ]
uk/liːp/us/liːp/leap noun [ C ] (SUDDEN CHANGE)
C2 a big change, increase, or improvement:
a leap in profits
It takes quite a leap of the imagination to believe that it's the same person.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming better
- alive
- by/in leaps and bounds idiom
- come alive idiom
- come along
- consolidate
- move
- on the up (and up) idiom
- perk
- perk up
- pick
- pickup
- rally
- shape
- straighten up
- turn over a new leaf idiom
- turn sth around
- turn sth round
- turn the corner idiom
- warm
- warm up
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Changing
leap noun [ C ] (MOVEMENT)
a large jump or sudden movement:
With one leap he crossed the stream.
Idiom(s)
by/in leaps and bounds
a leap in the dark
a leap of faith