jump

1 of 3

verb

ˈjəmp How to pronounce jump (audio)
jumped; jumping; jumps
Synonyms of jumpnext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to spring into the air : leap
especially : to spring free from the ground or other base by the muscular action of feet and legs
b
: to move suddenly or involuntarily : start
c
: to move energetically : hustle
d
: to start out or forward : begin
—usually used with off
jump off to a big lead
e
: to move over a position occupied by an opponent's piece in a board game often thereby capturing the piece
f
: to undergo a vertical or lateral displacement owing to improper alignment of the film on a projector mechanism
g
: to go from one sequence of instructions in a computer program to another
2
a
: to move haphazardly or irregularly : shift abruptly
jumped from job to job
b
: to undergo a sudden sharp change in value
prices jumped
c
: to make a hurried judgment
jump to conclusions
d
: to show eagerness
jumped at the chance
e
: to enter eagerly
jump on the bandwagon
f
: to change or abandon employment especially in violation of contract
g
: to rise suddenly in rank or status
h
: to make a jump in bridge
3
: to make a sudden physical or verbal attack
jumped on him for his criticism
4
: to bustle with activity
the restaurant was jumping
5
: coincide, agree

transitive verb

1
a
: to leap over
jump a hurdle
b
: to leap aboard
jump a freight
c
: to act, move, or begin before (something, such as a signal)
jump the green light
d
: to move over (a piece) in a board game
2
a
: to escape from : avoid
b
: to leave hastily or in violation of contract
jump town without paying their bills—Hamilton Basso
c
: to depart from (a normal course)
jump the track
3
a
: to make a sudden physical or verbal attack on
b
: to occupy illegally
jump a mining claim
4
a(1)
: to cause to leap
(2)
: to cause (game) to break cover : start, flush
b
: to increase suddenly and sharply
c
: to elevate in rank or status
d
: to raise (a bridge partner's bid) by more than one rank
5
obsolete : risk, hazard

jump

2 of 3

noun

1
a(1)
: an act of jumping : leap
(2)
: any of several sports competitions featuring a leap, spring, or bound
(3)
: a leap in figure skating in which the skater leaves the ice with both feet and turns in the air
(4)
: a space cleared or covered by a leap
(5)
: an obstacle to be jumped over or from
b
: a sudden involuntary movement : start
c
: a move made in a board game by jumping
d
: a transfer from one sequence of instructions in a computer program to a different sequence
2
: an advantage at the start
getting the jump on the competition
3
a(1)
: a sharp sudden increase
(2)
: a bid in bridge of more tricks than are necessary to overcall the preceding bid compare shift
b
: an abrupt change or transition
c(1)
: a quick short journey
(2)
: one in a series of moves from one place to another
d
: the portion of a published item (such as a newspaper article or story) that comprises the continuation of an item that begins on a preceding page
4
: jazz music with a fast tempo
5
obsolete : venture

jump

3 of 3

adverb

obsolete
: exactly, pat
Phrases
jump bail
: to abscond after being released from prison on bail
jump ship
1
: to leave the company of a ship without authority
2
: to desert a cause or party especially abruptly
jump the gun
1
: to start in a race before the starting signal
2
: to act, move, or begin something before the proper time
jump the queue
British : to advance directly to or as if to the head of a line
jump the shark
: to undergo a significant change for the worse that marks the point at which a period of success ends (as for a TV series)

Did you know?

Where did jump the shark come from?

When something jumps the shark it undergoes a significant change for the worse and is on a new trajectory of unrecoverable decline. The happy days of its golden age are over.

The origin of the phrase jump the shark is tucked neatly in that previous sentence: it comes from a 1977 episode of the American TV series “Happy Days” (1974–1984) in which the program's most popular character, Fonzie, jumps over a shark while waterskiing in his trademark leather jacket. Some years later that episode came to be widely identified as marking the beginning of the iconic show's decline, and its plot device became a metaphor for similar transformations:

Nearly all TV shows ever produced have jumped the shark eventually. Such is the nature of television's creative conundrum.
— Monica Collins, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2000

Most TV series take three seasons to jump the shark, but in the theater it can happen in 20 minutes …
— Bob Verini, Daily Variety, 18 Sept. 2009

But in its headlong embrace of capitalism and corporate tie-ins, “Sex and the City” may have finally jumped the shark.
— Laura Compton, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 May 2010

The phrase is no longer limited to contexts involving entertainment; anything that undergoes a significant change for the worse that marks the start of a period of decline can be said to have "jumped the shark":

Not everyone agrees when Picasso's art jumped the shark.
— Jeffry Cudlin, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2011

Silicon Valley has “jumped the shark” and lacks innovation, venture capitalist Peter Thiel says.
— Mike Murphy, MarketWatch, 1 Nov. 2018

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of jump in a Sentence

Verb The circus lion jumped through the hoop. The fans were jumping up and down with excitement. Everyone was jumping for joy when we found out that we had won an award. The cat jumped down off the table. The runner jumped a hurdle. The car jumped the curb. Everyone jumped into the pool. He jumped into his truck and drove away. She jumped when she heard a loud knock late at night. She jumped to an early lead in the race. Noun The horse took the first jump easily but balked at the second. took a small jump forward to avoid stepping in the puddle
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The unbeatable sale ends at midnight, when prices on furniture, decor, and bedding will jump back up. —Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025 Surpassing its previous accomplishments like walking, jumping, and performing human-like backflips, the newer Unitree G1 has demonstrated even more advanced maneuvers. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
In addition to the streaming jump, D’Angelo’s song catalog sold 9,000 digital track downloads for the week, up from a negligible amount in the previous week. —Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2025 The Giants reportedly have found their next skipper not from a major league organization but rather a college baseball program, with Tony Vitello set to become the first coach to make the jump directly from a college program to a major league dugout with no prior professional experience. —Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jump

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably akin to Low German gumpen to jump

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adverb

1539, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jump was in 1530

Phrases Containing jump

Rhymes for jump

See All Rhymes for jump

Browse Nearby Words

Jumnapari
jump
jumpable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jump.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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Kids Definition

jump

1 of 2 verb
ˈjəmp How to pronounce jump (audio)
1
a
: to spring into the air : leap
b
: to give a sudden movement : start
c
: to begin to move
—usually used with off
2
: to rise or raise suddenly in rank, status, or condition
prices jumped
3
: to make a sudden attack
jumped on us for being late
4
: to become lively with activity
the woods were jumping
5
a
: to pass over or cause to pass over by a leap
jump a hurdle
b
: bypass entry 2
jump electrical connections
c
: to leap aboard
jump a freight
6
: to run away and hide while at liberty under (bail)
7
: to depart from a normal course
jump the track
8
: to occupy illegally
jump a mining claim

jump

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: an act of jumping : leap
b
: any of several sports competitions that involve jumping
c
: a space covered by a leap
d
: a sudden involuntary movement : start
e
: a move made in a board game by jumping
2
a
: a sharp sudden increase
b
: one in a series of moves
keep one jump ahead
3
: an advantage at the start

More from Merriam-Webster on jump

Nglish: Translation of jump for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jump

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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