• 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
  • - he jumped twenty-five feet to the ground
• Pass over (an obstacle or barrier) in such a way
• (of an athlete or horse) Perform in a competition involving such action
  • - his horse jumped well and won by five lengths
• (esp. of prices or figures) Rise suddenly and by a large amount
  • - exports jumped by 500 percent during the decade
• (of a place) Be full of lively activity
  • - the bar is jumping on Fridays and Saturdays
• (of driver or a vehicle) Fail to stop at (a red traffic light)
• Get on or off (a train or other vehicle) quickly, typically illegally or dangerously
• Take summary possession of (a mining concession or other piece of land) after alleged abandonment or forfeiture by the former occupant
• (of a person) Move suddenly and quickly in a specified way
  • - Juliet jumped to her feet
  • - they jumped back into the car and drove off
• (of a person) Make a sudden involuntary movement in reaction to something that causes surprise or shock
  • - an owl hooted nearby, making her jump
• 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
• Attack (someone) suddenly and unexpectedly
• Have sexual intercourse with (someone)
• Start (a vehicle) using jumper cables
  • - I jumped his Camry from my Civic

noun /jəmp/
jumps, plural

• 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
• An obstacle to be jumped, esp. by a horse and rider in an equestrian competition
• An act of descending from an aircraft by parachute
• A sudden dramatic rise in amount, price, or value
  • - a 51 percent jump in annual profits
• 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
• An act of sexual intercourse
• A sudden involuntary movement caused by shock or surprise
  • - I woke up with a jump
• Extreme nervousness or anxiety