Word
sprang
US/ˈspɹæŋ/
UK/spɹˈæŋ/
Definition
v. the past tense of 'spring'. It means to move suddenly and quickly upward or forward, like a jumping cat.
v. the past tense of 'spring'; describes a sudden, forceful motion or a rapid transition from a state of rest to one of activity.
Examples
“The cat sprang onto the table to reach the food.”
“As soon as the alarm sounded, the soldiers sprang into action and headed for the perimeter.”
“The trap sprang shut the moment the weight was applied, capturing the specimen without causing any visible harm to its delicate wings.”
Examples
simple
“The cat sprang onto the table to reach the food.”
contextual
“As soon as the alarm sounded, the soldiers sprang into action and headed for the perimeter.”
complex
“The trap sprang shut the moment the weight was applied, capturing the specimen without causing any visible harm to its delicate wings.”
Usage
The past tense of the irregular verb 'spring'. It is intransitive when describing a jump, but can be transitive when describing a sudden release of a mechanism.
Pitfall
The cat sprung onto the table.
The cat sprang onto the table.
Learners often confuse the past tense 'sprang' with the past participle 'sprung'.
Real-World Examples
“Take Elanga’s goal, which sprang from an unpressed Nico González long ball, a poorly challenged Amar Dedic header, a cool turn and finish.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/sprang