English Reference

Word

leapt

US/ˈɫɛpt/

UK/lˈɛpt/

Definition

v. the past tense of leap. It means you jumped a long distance or jumped very high.

v. the past tense and past participle of 'leap'. Refers to the action of jumping a significant distance or height, or moving suddenly and with great force.

Examples

“The cat leapt onto the high shelf to reach its food.”

“When the gates finally opened, the crowd leapt to their feet and cheered for the arriving team.”

“The athlete leapt across the stream with such grace that he barely seemed to exert any effort at all, landing perfectly on the muddy bank.”

Examples

simple

“The cat leapt onto the high shelf to reach its food.”

contextual

“When the gates finally opened, the crowd leapt to their feet and cheered for the arriving team.”

complex

“The athlete leapt across the stream with such grace that he barely seemed to exert any effort at all, landing perfectly on the muddy bank.”

Usage

An irregular past tense form of 'leap'; 'leaped' is also used, though 'leapt' is more common in British English.

Real-World Examples

“Rajendra Dawadi leapt into action after receiving warnings over waters heading towards his school.”
BBC News · 30 Aug 2026
“Bellingham leapt highest to head past Marko Dimitrovic.”
The Guardian · 22 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/leapt

English Reference