What's the Difference Between 'Leaped' and 'Leapt'?

In this blog post we look at when to use leaped and when to use leapt.

'Leaped' or 'Leapt'?

The English language is a constantly evolving and dynamic entity, and one of the ways in which it changes over time is through the use of different verb forms.

One example of this can be seen in the past tense forms of the verb "leap," which are "leaped" and "leapt."

"Leaped" is the past tense form used in American English, while "leapt" is the past tense form used in British English. Both forms are considered to be correct and have the same meaning, which is to describe the action of jumping or springing.

The use of "leaped" and "leapt" can be traced back to the origins of the English language. "Leapt" is the older form of the verb, and it was commonly used in Old English and Middle English. However, as the language evolved and the pronunciation of words changed, "leapt" began to be replaced by "leaped" in American English.

Despite this difference, both forms are considered to be correct and are widely used in their respective regions.

In conclusion, "leaped" and "leapt" are both past tense forms of the verb "leap," and both are considered to be correct. However, "leaped" is more commonly used in American English, while "leapt" is more commonly used in British English.

Ultimately, the choice between the two forms will depend on the context and the preference of the writer.

Here are some example sentences of the words “leaped” and “leapt” used in context:

  1. She leaped over the fence to escape the dog. (American English)

  2. She leapt over the fence to escape the dog. (British English)

Both sentences convey the same meaning and action, the past tense of the verb "leap" is used to indicate that the action of jumping over the fence has already happened.

  1. He leaped out of bed early in the morning to start his day. (American English)

  2. He leapt out of bed early in the morning to start his day. (British English)

Again, both sentences convey the same meaning and action, the past tense of the verb "leap" is used to indicate that the action of jumping out of bed has already happened.

Examples of Leaped in a Sentence

  1. The cat leaped onto the windowsill.

  2. The athlete leaped over the hurdle with ease.

  3. She leaped out of bed when she heard the noise.

  4. He leaped from the boat and swam to shore.

  5. The flame leaped from the candle and set the curtains on fire.

  6. The dog leaped up to catch the Frisbee.

  7. The lion leaped at the gazelle, but missed.

  8. The rabbit leaped out of the bushes and ran away.

  9. She leaped into his arms and they shared a passionate kiss.

  10. The fire leaped out of control and quickly spread.

Examples of Leapt in a Sentence

  1. The cat leapt onto the windowsill.

  2. The athlete leapt over the hurdle with ease.

  3. She leapt out of bed when she heard the noise.

  4. He leapt from the boat and swam to shore.

  5. The flame leapt from the candle and set the curtains on fire.

  6. The dog leapt up to catch the Frisbee.

  7. The lion leapt at the gazelle, but missed.

  8. The rabbit leapt out of the bushes and ran away.

  9. She leapt into his arms and they shared a passionate kiss.

  10. The fire leapt out of control and quickly spread.


Leaped or Leapt
Leaped or Leapt