English Reference

Word

leap

US/ˈɫip/

UK/lˈiːp/

Irregular verb

Forms

Infinitive

leap

Past

leaped / leapt

Past participle

leaped / leapt

Definitions

01to jump

B1 · Intermediate

v. to jump a long way or high into the air.

v. to spring through the air from one point to another by muscular effort.

“The cat had to leap over the puddle to keep its paws dry.”

“The athlete managed to leap across the stream with such grace that he barely disturbed the loose gravel on the opposite bank.”

Usage

Often used with prepositions like 'over', 'across', or 'into'.

Synonyms

02a physical jump

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the act of jumping or the distance you jump.

n. the act of leaping; the space or distance covered by a single jump.

“It was a big leap from the boat to the wooden dock.”

“With one powerful leap, the deer cleared the garden fence and disappeared into the dense forest.”

Synonyms

03a big change

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a large and sudden change or improvement.

n. a sudden and significant transition or advancement in status, knowledge, or progress.

“The new medicine is a huge leap forward for science.”

“The transition from steam power to electricity represented a massive technological leap that redefined industrial production in the twentieth century.”

Usage

Commonly found in the idiom 'a leap of faith'.

04musical interval

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Music Technical

n. a jump from one musical note to another that is much higher or lower.

n. a movement from one note to another by an interval larger than a second.

“The singer struggled with the sudden leap to the high note.”

“The melody is characterised by wide leaps and jagged rhythms, making it particularly challenging for the woodwind section to execute cleanly.”

Usage

Used to describe melodic motion that is not stepwise.

Synonyms

skipdisjunct

Antonyms

05a group of leopards

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary

n. the special name for a group of leopards.

n. the collective noun for a group of leopards.

“We were lucky enough to spot a leap of leopards resting in the tree.”

“The guide whispered that a leap of leopards had been sighted near the watering hole earlier that morning.”

Teaching tip

This is a 'term of venery' or collective noun; like 'a pride of lions', it is rarely used in everyday speech.

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “leap” in context.

Verb

01. leap at the opportunity

“She leaped at the opportunity to study abroad when the scholarship was offered.”

verb + prep + noun

02. leap to conclusions

“We shouldn't leap to conclusions before we have seen all the evidence from the investigation.”

verb + prep + noun

Adjective

03. giant leap

“Landing on the moon was described as a giant leap for mankind.”

adj + noun

04. quantum leap

“The new processor represents a quantum leap in computing performance.”

adj + noun

Noun

05. leap in profits

“The company reported a sudden leap in profits following the successful product launch.”

noun + prep + noun

06. leap of faith

“Moving to a new country without a job was a massive leap of faith for him.”

noun + of + noun

Preposition

07. by leaps and bounds

“Her English skills have improved by leaps and bounds since she moved to London.”

prep + noun

Real-World Examples

“Viruses are not alive and it would take another significant leap for AI to generate living organisms.”
BBC News 6 Aug 2026
“Even Ronaldo, the most-followed athlete on Instagram, experienced a healthy leap.”
BBC News 15 Aug 2026

Idioms

Domains

ComputingFishingMiningMusic

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Frequent
Level
C1 · AdvancedOxford
Updated

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English Reference