leap

UK: /ˈliːp/ US: /lip/ ,(lēp)

Inflections of 'leap' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

The past form "leapt" is mainly used in UK English. It is correct in US English, but rare. The past form "leaped" is correct in both US and UK English.

leaps

v 3rd person singular

leaping

v pres p

leaped

v past (US & UK)

leapt

v past (Mainly UK)

leaped

v past p (US & UK)

leapt

v past p (Mainly UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

leap /lip/   v., leaped or leapt /lɛpt, lipt/  leap•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to spring through the air from one point or position to another;
   jump (over): [no object]
   to leap over a ditch.
   [~ + object]
   to leap a fence.
2. to cause to jump this way:
   [~ + object] The rider leaped her horse over the obstacles.
3. to move or act quickly or suddenly:
   [no object] to leap aside.
4. to pass, come, rise, etc., as if with a jump:
   [no object] Suddenly an idea leaped to her mind.

n. [countable]

5. a springing movement.
6. the distance covered in a leap;
   jump:
   a leap of three feet.
7. an abrupt change, usually for the better:
   a leap in profits.

Idioms

8. Idioms by leaps and bounds, very rapidly:
   The baby seemed to be growing by leaps and bounds.
9. Idioms leap in the dark, [countable] an action that risks results that cannot be predicted.

leap•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

leap  (lēp), v., leaped or leapt, leap•ing, n. 
v.i. 

1. to spring through the air from one point or position to another;
   jump:
   to leap over a ditch.
2. to move or act quickly or suddenly:
   to leap aside; She leaped at the opportunity.
3. to pass, come, rise, etc., as if with a jump:
   to leap to a conclusion; an idea that immediately leaped to mind.

v.t. 

4. to jump over:
   to leap a fence.
5. to pass over as if by a jump.
6. to cause to leap:
   to leap a horse.

n. 

7. a spring, jump, or bound;
   a light, springing movement.
8. the distance covered in a leap;
   distance jumped.
9. a place leaped or to be leaped over or from.
10. a sudden or abrupt transition:
    a successful leap from piano class to concert hall.
11. a sudden and decisive increase:
    a leap in the company's profits.
12. Idioms by leaps and bounds, very rapidly:
    We are progressing by leaps and bounds.
13. Idioms leap in the dark, an action of which the consequences are unknown:
    The experiment was a leap in the dark.
14. Idioms leap of faith, an act or instance of accepting or trusting in something that cannot readily be seen or proved.

• bef. 900; Middle English lepen, Old English hlēapan to leap, run; cognate with German laufen, Old Norse hlaupa, Gothic hlaupan

leap′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. bound. See jump. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

leap / liːp/ verb (leaps, leaping, leapt, leaped)

1. (intransitive) to jump suddenly from one place to another
2. (intransitive) often followed by at: to move or react quickly
3. (transitive) to jump over
4. to come into prominence rapidly: the thought leapt into his mind
5. (transitive) to cause (an animal, esp a horse) to jump a barrier

noun

1. the act of jumping
2. a spot from which a leap was or may be made
3. an abrupt change or increase
4. a leap in the dark ⇒ an action performed without knowledge of the consequences
5. by leaps and bounds ⇒ with unexpectedly rapid progress

Etymology: Old English hlēapan; related to Gothic hlaupan, German laufen

ˈleaper noun