English Reference

Phrasal verb

spring from

Definition

phrasal verb. to start or come from something suddenly; to be the result of a specific idea or event.

phrasal verb. to originate from a particular source or cause; often used to describe the sudden emergence of an idea, feeling, or physical movement. The verb is intransitive and requires the preposition 'from' to link to the source.

Examples

“New ideas often spring from simple conversations.”

“The entire legal case springs from a single mistake made by the clerk last year.”

“The novelist's vivid descriptions spring from her childhood memories of the rugged Irish coastline.”

Examples

simple

“New ideas often spring from simple conversations.”

contextual

“The entire legal case springs from a single mistake made by the clerk last year.”

complex

“The novelist's vivid descriptions spring from her childhood memories of the rugged Irish coastline.”

Usage

often used in the past tense ('sprung from') to describe origins or sudden movements.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'result from' to show that 'spring from' implies a more sudden or organic beginning; it is more common in descriptive or literary writing than in technical reports.

Phrasal verb

Particles

from

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

spring + from + object

Synonyms

arise fromoriginate instem fromderive from

Antonyms

end inlead toresult in

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

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
Level
C1 · Advanced
Updated

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English Reference