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quantum leap

/ˌkwɑntəm lip/
IPA guide

Other forms: quantum leaps

A quantum leap is a huge increase or a big move forward. You might describe the dramatic improvement in your math grade as a quantum leap.

An advance or sudden change is a quantum leap. You could say that schools in the United States have made a quantum leap in the availability of technology over the past ten years, or that a quantum leap in access to clean water is desperately needed in many developing countries. The phrase comes from a scientific term — in physics, a quantum leap is the abrupt change of a particle from one state to another. The Latin root, quantum, means "how much."

Definitions of quantum leap
  1. noun
    a sudden large increase or advance
    “this may not insure success but it will represent a quantum leap from last summer”
    synonyms: quantum jump
    see moresee less
    type of:
    jump, leap
    a sudden and decisive increase
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘quantum leap'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Commonly confused words

How Did "Quantum" Come to Mean "Really Big"?

The implication that "quantum" is something big and powerful, with a hint of science behind it, is a fairly recent development.

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