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to jump

to jump

217 1.0
To move or start suddenly because you are surprised
  • verb
  • /dʒʌmp/
translation icon : sobresaltarse
  • You basically have to jump up and down or stand on your head.

And so that famous shot of Jamie jumping at the blast wave is Jamie acting.

Examples

  • Every time the phone rang, I jumped.

  • You can jump out and scare people.

  • Every noise at night caused me to jump and look out of our hotel window.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Everyone in the stadium jumped to their feet except my father and me.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The house phone rang, and she jumped at the sudden noise.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • In near panic, Jacob jumps across the track as the train spins by.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Then, as if he were possessed, he flung the sheet aside and jumped to the floor.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • He jumped when he heard a loud noise behind him.

  • The sudden explosion made everyone jump in surprise.

  • I couldn't help but jump when the movie's climax startled me.

Synonyms

to start
vsto jump
530 1.0

To make a sudden small movement when surprised or afraid

covers sudden movement more broadly rather than only immediate reactions
to spring
vsto jump
141 1.0

To move suddenly by jumping, leaping, or bouncing

is used for sudden movement that is tied to surprise or alarm
to startle
vsto jump
50 3.3

To move suddenly, for example by jumping, because you feel surprised

is more general including sudden movement from various shocks or alarms
to jump out of one's skin
vsto jump
  • Informal
5 7.7

To be very surprised and move suddenly because of fear

is a less intense sudden movement often caused by surprise or alarm
to leap out
vsto jump
3 3.1

To jump out suddenly from a hiding place to surprise someone

is sudden movement often caused by surprise or alarm rather than coming from hiding

Antonyms

Stay upright in one place without moving

Idioms

20 5.0

To start doing something popular because many others do it, often to get an advantage

to jump for joy
  • Informal
6 2.5

Move or jump because you are very happy

5 7.7

To be very surprised and move suddenly because of fear

To suddenly speak angrily and criticize someone for a small mistake

4 9.4

To start to get worse after a silly or big change, for example in a TV show

1 7.8

Start a difficult task without much preparation or experience

1 8.2

To do something dangerous or foolish because other people do it

1 7.4

Do a difficult task because someone in charge asks you to

9.1

Rudely tell someone to go away and stop bothering you

9.9

A rude joking way to tell someone to go away without meaning it

9.9

To tell someone angrily to go away and leave you alone

To leave a job or position before someone forces you out

To have sex with someone because you really want them

To join a business or project that is likely to fail even though there are clear risks

Phrasal Verbs

82 3.2

To leap down from a high place

46 3.9

Decide quickly about someone or something without enough information

38 3.0

Start taking part in something quickly and with enthusiasm

to jump the gun
  • Informal
29 5.3

To act before the right time, often too soon

23 4.3

To use an opportunity quickly

23 3.4

Easy to notice because it looks different or bright

16 3.8

To make a stopped activity or project begin again with energy

13 1.8

To get quickly onto the back of something like a horse or bike

to get the jump
  • Informal
9 6.8

To act before others to get an advantage

2 4.8

To start quickly and get an early lead

To start a car engine that has a dead battery using another car's battery and cables

To start something quickly without thinking about the risks

Move ahead of people waiting in a line to skip your turn

9.9

To get angry quickly over small things

To accept an offer or chance quickly before someone else does

To make someone feel eager and ready to work again

Compounds

19 2.7

A basketball shot made while you jump and let go of the ball at the top

8 1.5

A rope with handles used for jumping over as it swings under your feet

8 2.6

A sports event where a person runs and jumps as far as possible

4 2.6

An athletic event where athletes jump over a horizontal bar without knocking it down

4 4.1

The place or time where an event begins

jump ball
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A basketball way where the referee tosses the ball between two players who jump to tap it to a teammate

2 3.2

A track event where an athlete does a hop, a step, and a jump in a row

2 3.4

A steep ramp that skiers slide down to jump into the air

2 1.3

A game or exercise in which people jump while a rope swings under their feet

2 5.3

A small folding seat in a vehicle used for extra passengers

2 4.0

An act of starting a car with a dead battery using another car's battery and cables

1 3.5

A track event where a person runs and jumps to land as far away as possible

jump cut
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A sudden change between two film shots that makes action or time seem to skip

1 4.8

A sudden loud sound or image in films and games that makes you jump

jump-off
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A person you have sex with once without a relationship

water jump
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A pool or stream that competitors jump over in races

A track event where an athlete does a hop, a step, then a long jump in one run

jump gate
  • Jargon
9.9

A machine in science fiction that lets ships travel instantly between distant stars

jump-cut
  • Specialized
7.6

A sudden cut between shots in a film that shows time passing or makes the action jump

jump-off
  • Specialized
7.4

A short extra round to decide the winner in horse jumping

A small wildflower with bright, pansy-like flowers often grown in gardens

quantum jump
  • Specialized
8.5

A sudden change in an electron's energy level when it gains or loses energy

A very large and sudden improvement or step forward

4.8

A sport where a person uses a long pole to jump over a high bar

spread-eagle jump
  • Specialized
7.5

A jump with arms and legs stretched out to the sides like an eagle

How Sudden

to bolt
69 2.3
to jerk
217 2.0
to jump
217 1.0
to start
530 1.0
to flinch
71 4.1

Surface Forms

jump infinitive
jumped past
jumped past participle
jumping present participle
jumps third person singular

Etymology

Jump meaning 'move or start suddenly' comes from the same old idea of a quick hop or sudden movement, so you can think of a small, fast 'jump' your body makes when it is surprised.