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- DictionaryJump/jəmp/
verb
- 1. push oneself off a surface and into the air by using the muscles in one's legs and feet: "the cat jumped off his lap" Similar leapspringboundhopbounceskipbobcaperdanceprancegambolfrolicfriskcavort
- ▪ pass over (an obstacle or barrier) by jumping: "one of the deer tried to jump the ditch" Similar vault (over)leap overclearsail overhop overgo overleapfrogpole-vaulthurdle
- ▪ (of an athlete or horse) perform in a competition that involves jumping over obstacles: "his horse jumped well and won by five lengths"
- ▪ (especially of prices or figures) rise suddenly and by a large amount: "exports jumped by 500 percent during the decade" Similar risego upleap upshoot upsoarsurgeclimbincreasemountescalatespiralinformal:skyrocketOpposite fallplummet
- ▪ (of driver or a vehicle) fail to stop at (a red traffic light): informal "she jumped at least seven red lights" Similar ignoredisregardfail to stop atdrive throughovershootinformal:run
- ▪ get on or off (a train or other vehicle) quickly, typically illegally or dangerously: "he jumped a freight train on the German border"
- ▪ take summary possession of (a mining concession or other piece of land) after alleged abandonment or forfeiture by the former occupant: North American "the same long story about the time somebody jumped his claim"
- 2. (of a person) move suddenly and quickly in a specified way: "Juliet jumped to her feet" Similar leapspringboundhopbounceskipbobcaperdanceprancegambolfrolicfriskcavort
- ▪ (of a person) make a sudden involuntary movement in reaction to something that causes surprise or shock: "an owl hooted nearby, making her jump" Similar startjerkjoltflinchrecoiltwitchwinceshuddershakequiverinformal:jump out of one's skin
- ▪ pass quickly or abruptly from one idea, subject, or state to another: "she jumped backward and forward in her narrative"
- ▪ omit or skip over (part of something) and pass on to a further point or stage.
- ▪ (of a machine or device) move or jerk suddenly and abruptly: "the vibration can cause the needle to jump"
- ▪ (of a person) make a sudden, impulsive rush to do something: "Gordon jumped to my defense"
- ▪ (in checkers) capture (an opponent's piece) by jumping over it.
- ▪ make a bid that is higher than necessary, in order to signal a strong hand: "East jumped to four spades"
- 3. attack (someone) suddenly and unexpectedly: informal "he was jumped by seven men as he opened the front door of his home"
- 4. (of a place) be full of lively activity: informal "the bar is jumping on Fridays and Saturdays"
- 5. have sex with (someone). vulgar slang North American
- 6. start (a vehicle) using jumper cables: informal North American "I jumped his Camry from my Civic"
noun
- 1. an act of jumping from a surface by pushing upward with one's legs and feet: "in making the short jump across the gully he lost his balance" Similar leapspringvaultboundhopbounceskip
- ▪ an obstacle to be jumped, especially by a horse and rider in an equestrian competition. Similar obstaclebarrierfencehurdlerailhedgegate
- ▪ an act of descending from an aircraft by parachute: "a parachute jump"
- ▪ a sudden dramatic rise in amount, price, or value: "a 51 percent jump in annual profits" Similar riseleapincreaseupturnupsurgeupswingspirallingliftescalationelevationboostadvanceaugmentationinformal:hikeOpposite falldrop
- ▪ a large or sudden transition or change: "the jump from mass-market to luxury goods"
- ▪ (in checkers) the act of capturing an opponent's piece by jumping over it.
- ▪ a bid that is higher than necessary, signaling strength: "a jump to four indicates support for responder's suit"
- 2. a sudden involuntary movement caused by shock or surprise: "I woke up with a jump" Similar startjerksudden movementinvoluntary movementconvulsive movementspasmtwitchwinceshudderquivershake
- ▪ extreme nervousness or anxiety: informal "you get the jumps—you feel like J. Edgar Hoover's on your tail"
- 3. an act or instance of having sex. vulgar slang, dated North American
Word Origin early 16th century (in the sense ‘be moved or thrown with a sudden jerk’): probably imitative of the sound of feet coming into contact with the ground.
Derivatives
- 1. jumpable adjective
Scrabble Points: 15
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