lepaya
B1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
to jump a long distance or high into the air, often from one point to another.
To make a sudden, large increase or change; to accept an opportunity eagerly or quickly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a forceful, dynamic, and often propulsive movement, either physical or metaphorical. Contrasts with 'hop' (small jump) or 'jump' (more general).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. 'Leap year' and 'leap at the chance' are common in both. 'Quantum leap' (large advance) is more frequent in American technical/business contexts.
Connotations
Equally positive for seizing opportunities ('leap at the offer'). Slightly more formal/poetic in UK usage for physical action.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US English in business metaphors ('leapfrog the competition').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
leap + preposition (over, into, from, at)leap + adverb (forward, up, ahead)leap + noun (leap the fence)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “by leaps and bounds”
- “look before you leap”
- “a leap in the dark”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Significant, non-incremental progress: 'The new software represents a quantum leap in efficiency.'
Academic
Describing sudden changes or paradigm shifts: 'The discovery caused a leap in our understanding.'
Everyday
Physical action or eager acceptance: 'The cat leapt onto the wall.' / 'I'd leap at the opportunity.'
Technical
In physics/engineering: 'The electron makes a quantum leap to a higher energy state.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The athlete leapt over the hurdle with ease.
- Profits leapt by 15% last quarter.
American English
- The deer leaped across the creek.
- She leaped at the job offer without hesitation.
adjective
British English
- It's a leap year, so we have an extra day in February.
- The report highlighted leap growth in the sector.
American English
- We're planning for the leap year accordingly.
- The company's leap progression was noted by analysts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The frog can leap very high.
- Be careful! Don't leap off the wall.
- Sales leaped after the advertisement aired.
- He leapt over the puddle to keep his feet dry.
- The new technology represents a significant leap forward for renewable energy.
- Investors are wary of such a speculative leap into an untested market.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LEOPard, which can LEAP great distances. Both words start with 'LEA'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS UPWARD MOTION / OPPORTUNITIES ARE OBJECTS TO BE GRASPED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'leap of faith' literally; it's 'акт доверия' or 'шаг веры'.
- 'By leaps and bounds' means 'очень быстро, стремительно', not just 'прыжками'.
- Confusion with 'jump' – 'leap' implies more distance/force.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'leaped' (common in US) and 'leapt' (common in UK) are both correct.
- Using 'leap' for small hops.
- Misspelling as 'leep'.
- Using 'leap with an opportunity' instead of 'leap AT an opportunity'.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to accept eagerly'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Leap' typically implies a more forceful, sustained, or longer-distance movement, often from one point to another. 'Jump' is more general and can be vertical or horizontal.
Both are correct past tense and past participle forms. 'Leaped' is more common in American English, while 'leapt' is more common in British English.
It means believing in or accepting something without conclusive proof, or making a crucial decision despite uncertainty.
Yes, very commonly. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe sudden, large increases (e.g., a leap in profits) or significant advances (e.g., a technological leap).