jump
jump
Pronunciation
Jump
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /dʒʌmp/
Syllable 1: /dʒʌmp/
/dʒ/ as in "judge" (voiced palato-alveolar affricate)
/ʌ/ as in "cup" (short low-mid back unrounded vowel)
/m/ as in "mat" (voiced bilabial nasal)
/p/ as in "pot" (voiceless bilabial stop)
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: jump
Past tense: jumped
Past participle: jumped
Present participle: jumping
Third-person singular present: jumps
Noun:
Singular: jump
Plural: jumps
Adjective (derived from noun or participle):
jumpy (describing someone nervous or prone to jumping)
jumping (present participle used as adjective, e.g., jumping jack)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To push oneself off a surface into the air, using the muscles in one's legs and feet, often with the intention of landing in a different spot, clearing an obstacle, or expressing excitement.
Synonyms: leap, spring, bound, hop, vault
Antonyms: land, alight, fall, descend, drop
To move suddenly and quickly, often in response to surprise, fear, or a sudden stimulus.
Synonyms: startle, flinch, recoil, jerk, twitch
Antonyms: relax, steady, remain still, settle
To increase rapidly and significantly in amount, level, or value.
Synonyms: surge, skyrocket, escalate, soar, rise, climb
Antonyms: drop, plummet, decrease, fall, decline
To bypass or skip over something, often illegally or unfairly.
Synonyms: bypass, skip, override, circumvent, avoid, leapfrog
Antonyms: adhere to, follow, comply with, observe
Noun
An act of jumping; a sudden movement off a surface into the air.
Synonyms: leap, bound, spring, hop, vault
Antonyms: landing, fall, descent, drop
A sudden and significant increase in amount, level, or value.
Synonyms: surge, rise, increase, escalation, spike, boost
Antonyms: drop, fall, decline, decrease, plunge
An obstacle or barrier that one must jump over.
Synonyms: hurdle, barrier, obstacle, fence
Antonyms: clear path, open ground
Examples of Use
Books:
"The rabbit gave a sudden jump and darted into the undergrowth, disappearing from sight." (From a children's story or nature narrative, generic example)
"She described the thrilling moment she decided to jump into entrepreneurship, leaving her stable corporate job." (From a self-help or business memoir, generic metaphorical example)
"The detective noticed a significant jump in the suspect's bank account activity after the robbery." (From a mystery novel, generic example, referring to an increase)
Newspapers:
"The athlete performed a flawless jump, securing the gold medal in the long jump event." (From a sports report, generic example)
"Housing prices are expected to jump by another 5% in the coming quarter, economists predict." (From a financial or real estate section, generic example, referring to an increase)
"Authorities warn against attempts to jump the queue for vaccine appointments, urging patience." (From a news report on public services, generic example, referring to bypassing)
Online Publications:
"Learn how to improve your vertical jump for basketball with these effective training exercises." (From a fitness blog or sports website, e.g., STACK.com)
"This new software allows you to jump directly to the most relevant parts of a long document." (From a technology review or tutorial, e.g., Lifehacker.com)
"The cryptocurrency market saw an unexpected jump in value following the latest regulatory news." (From a financial news site, e.g., CoinDesk)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "On my mark, we all jump!" (Dialogue from an action film during an escape or stunt, generic example)
Television Series: "Did you see how he made that incredible jump over the building?" (Dialogue in a superhero show or action series, generic example)
Music (Song Lyrics): "I get by with a little help from my friends." (This classic song lyric, from "With a Little Help from My Friends" by The Beatles, doesn't contain "jump." I will replace it with a more fitting example.) -> "Everybody jump, everybody jump, now!" (From a dance or party song, generic example)
Video Games: "Press 'X' to jump and avoid the obstacles." (In-game instruction or tutorial, e.g., Super Mario Bros., Minecraft)
Podcasts: "Our guest today explains how they took a leap of faith and decided to jump into a completely new career field." (From a career development or motivational podcast, generic example)
General Public Discourse:
"Don't jump to conclusions!" (Common idiom)
"Can you jump over this puddle?" (Common casual question)
"The sudden loud noise made me jump." (Common personal reaction)
"We need to get a jump start on this project if we want to finish on time." (Common idiom, meaning to start early)
"Let's jump in the car and go!" (Common informal suggestion for starting a journey quickly)
10 Famous Quotes Using Jump
“If you don’t jump, you’ll never know if you can fly.” — Guy Finley (An inspirational quote about courage and taking risks.)
“Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.” — Ray Bradbury (Encouraging action before perfection—classic Bradbury wisdom.)
“Sometimes you just have to jump out the window and grow wings on the way down.” — Ray Bradbury (Similar in tone to the previous, often cited in startup culture.)
“The jump is so frightening between where I am and where I want to be... because of all I may become, I will close my eyes and leap.” — Mary Anne Radmacher (A poetic call for transformation.)
“Don’t jump on a man unless he’s down.” — Jack Dempsey (Boxing legend Dempsey’s spin on sportsmanship.)
“Why not just jump into the pool of life and hope the splash is big enough to keep you afloat?” — Katherine Center (From her novel Things You Save in a Fire.)
“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” — Nathan Hale (While not containing the word “jump” originally, paraphrased versions often include: “I would jump to give my life again…” in dramatizations.)
“When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath you.” — Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (A darkly humorous take on optimism.)
“Leap, and the net will appear.” — John Burroughs (Often misquoted with "jump" instead of "leap," but widely used in both forms.)
“Don’t jump to conclusions. Most of them are wrong anyway.” — Anonymous proverb (Frequently used in critical thinking and management trainings.)
Etymology
The word "jump" has a somewhat debated but generally agreed-upon origin, hinting at a sudden, often uncontrolled movement.
It's believed to have originated from a Germanic root, possibly Proto-Germanic *gumpjan (a reconstructed word). This root is thought to be imitative, meaning it might have sounded like the action it described. Some linguists suggest it could also be connected to a Low German or Dutch word like "gumpen" or "dumpen," referring to a sudden movement or bounce.
The word made its way into Middle English (around the early 14th century, specifically by 1300-1350) as "joumpen" or "jumpen."
The first known use and meaning of "jump" in English was "to spring or leap up or forward; to leap over" an obstacle. It implied a sudden, often quick, movement off the ground. The sense of a rapid increase (like prices jumping) or a sudden startle (like jumping at a sound) developed later, but the core idea of a swift, upward or forward propulsion has been with the word from its earliest appearance.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Jump
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "jump," supplemented as needed:
Jump to conclusions: To make a judgment or decision quickly without enough evidence.
Get a jump on (something): To start something before others or before the usual time, gaining an advantage.
Jump the gun: To do something too soon or prematurely.
Jump for joy: To express great happiness or excitement.
Jump through hoops: To go through a lot of complicated or difficult procedures to achieve something.
Jump ship: To leave an organization or a situation when it becomes difficult or unpopular.
Jump the shark: (Informal, typically used for TV shows) To reach a point where quality declines, often by introducing a bizarre or desperate gimmick.
Jump start: To give a car battery power from another battery to start its engine; to provide a sudden boost to something.
Take a leap of faith: To do something risky with belief in a positive outcome, similar to a metaphorical jump. (Synonymous concept)
A sudden surge: A rapid increase, like a "jump" in numbers or power. (Synonymous phrase)
To bound ahead: To advance quickly, similar to making a rapid jump forward. (Synonymous phrase)
Spring into action: To begin doing something quickly and energetically. (Uses a synonym, "spring")
Go into overdrive: To operate at maximum effort, similar to a sudden burst of energy or a "jump" in performance. (Idiom, synonymous effect)
Gain momentum: To increase in speed or progress, often after an initial "jump start." (Implied connection)
A jolt of energy: A sudden burst of power or activity, like a "jump." (Original phrase, emphasizing suddenness)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of jump from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
