Learn English – Which word – ‘leap, spring, bound (etc)’ – is most appropriate for a single jump

word-choiceword-requestword-usage

In one leap, she sprang up on her desk, nimble like a cat.

In one spring, she sprang up on her desk, nimble like a cat.

In one bound, she sprang up on her desk, nimble like a cat.

I'm trying to figure out which of these words is best to use, especially when I want to emphasize that it's taking just one step to get from the floor to the desk. Are they all essentially the same in that regard, or would any of these words not be good to use in this context?

Best Answer

To me, leap, bound and spring have slightly different emphasis compared with the more neutral noun jump. At least to my ears:

  • a leap emphasises the distance, or gymnastic ability of the jump.

  • a bound emphasises the energy or perhaps the enthusiasm of the jump.

  • a spring emphasises the speed or the unexpectedness of the jump.

So for example, I might use them in the following sentences:

The cat leapt into the air, and landed on the next door neighbour's balcony.

When Joe came home, he was met with Bruno the dog, who bounded through the hallway and jumped up to greet him.

When Mary stepped on the cat's tail, he sprang up and scratched her.

In the context of your sentence, where the emphasis is on the nimbleness and perhaps distance of the jump, I would therefore choose leap, although I would avoid mixing leap with sprung, instead preferring a more neutral noun to go with the verb leapt or a more neutral verb to go with the noun leap:

In one leap, she jumped up on her desk, nimble like a cat.

In one quick movement, she leapt up on her desk, nimble like a cat.

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