spring 1 of 2

noun

Definition of springnext
1
as in leap
an act of leaping into the air the deer gave a sudden spring and disappeared into the woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in source
a point or place at which something is invented or provided the springs of this time-honored tradition run too deep to allow for easy explanation

Synonyms & Similar Words

spring

2 of 2

verb

ˈspriŋ How to pronounce spring (audio)
1
as in to start
to come into existence when it comes to love and romance, hope springs eternally

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to leap
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air the cat sprang and pounced on the mouse

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to release
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) had to spend a night in jail until their lawyer could come to spring them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb spring differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spring are arise, derive, emanate, flow, issue, originate, proceed, rise, and stem. While all these words mean "to come up or out of something into existence," spring implies rapid or sudden emerging.

an idea that springs to mind

How do arise and rise relate to one another, in the sense of spring?

Arise and rise may both convey the fact of coming into existence or notice but rise often stresses gradual growth or ascent.

new questions have arisen
slowly rose to prominence

When is it sensible to use derive instead of spring?

In some situations, the words derive and spring are roughly equivalent. However, derive implies a prior existence in another form.

the holiday derives from an ancient Roman feast

Where would emanate be a reasonable alternative to spring?

While in some cases nearly identical to spring, emanate applies to the coming of something immaterial (such as a thought) from a source.

reports emanating from the capital

How are the words flow and spring related?

Flow adds to spring a suggestion of abundance or ease of inception.

words flowed easily from her pen

When might issue be a better fit than spring?

Although the words issue and spring have much in common, issue suggests emerging from confinement through an outlet.

blood issued from the cut

When would originate be a good substitute for spring?

The meanings of originate and spring largely overlap; however, originate implies a definite source or starting point.

the fire originated in the basement

When could proceed be used to replace spring?

The synonyms proceed and spring are sometimes interchangeable, but proceed stresses place of origin, derivation, parentage, or logical cause.

advice that proceeds from the best of intentions

In what contexts can stem take the place of spring?

While the synonyms stem and spring are close in meaning, stem implies originating by dividing or branching off from something as an outgrowth or subordinate development.

industries stemming from space research

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of spring
Noun
Over the past 10 days, Kansas City’s weather has seemed rather cold-ish for spring. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025 Kentucky has experienced a spate of dangerous severe weather this spring, from violent storms to devastating floods that have caused significant damage and loss of life. —Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Verb
Frankenstein’s monster and bride sprang to life in Darkmoor Village, the section of the park dedicated to Universal’s classic monsters. —Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025 Spring, summer, fall, winter – and then spring again. —Linda McNamar, Oc Register, 11 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for spring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spring
  1. leap
  2. source
  3. start
  4. jump
  5. release
  6. hop
  7. cradle
  8. begin
Noun
  • The story is thoughtful and also takes provocative leaps: Mark envisions conversations with saints whose sexuality was erased in interpretations of the Bible.
    — George Gene Gustines, New York Times, 1 June 2025
  • Don’t take big leaps that don’t align with your desires (i.e., with no chance for reward).
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 June 2025
Definition of leap
Noun
  • Charlie Davis Season: 46 Placed: 2nd If Q was the hurricane blowing through Survivor 46, Davis was a source of calm geniality at the center, constantly quoting Taylor Swift songs while obscuring his careful, clever gameplay.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Time, 29 May 2025
  • In addition, with Serge Gnabry a year away from being a free agent, Leroy Sane’s contract renewal increasingly tenuous, and Kingsley Coman another likely departure, the wide forwards positions — which have so often been a source of such power — need regenerating.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Definition of source
Verb
  • Then, about 30 minutes after launch, Ship started to tumble, which was the result of a leak in Ship's fuel-tank systems, according to Huot.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 May 2025
  • Known to his fans as King Vamp, the Opium label founder started as a SoundCloud rapper in Atlanta and successfully wave-hopped his way from Awful Records to A$AP Mob to Kanye West on the path to superstardom.
    — Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 28 May 2025
Definition of start
Verb
  • The Knicks’ starters were outscored by 29 points over the first two games, and Indiana jumped out to a first-quarter lead both nights.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
  • After Gabriel meets a gory fate at the business end of a biplane rudder, Ethan does his poison pill move and jumps but free-falls and flails frightfully for quite a bit of time before an emergency parachute saves him.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 May 2025
Definition of jump
Verb
  • An Arizona murderer was sentenced to life plus 10 years in prison on May 27 after killing a second person only 16 days after he was released in 2020, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.
    — Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2025
  • Generic drugs, which are designed to provide the same therapeutic effects as brand-name ones and are released after their patents expire, account for 90% of all prescriptions in the US.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
Definition of release
Noun
  • Kudos to Kendrick for breaking these barriers as a hip hop artist, because the game is changing and the artists have to change with it.
    — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 2 June 2025
  • On a short United hop from Chicago O'Hare to Peoria, Illinois, a single ticket cost $269.
    — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
Definition of hop
Noun
  • Spanning 17 autonomous regions and two small enclaves in North Africa, the country is a cradle of diverse cultures, geography, traditions, even languages.
    — Siobhan Reid, Vogue, 28 May 2025
  • Bonus: There are cradles for your dumbbells, along with a tablet holder.
    — Sara Coughlin, SELF, 28 May 2025
Definition of cradle
Verb
  • As the family begins bickering, Alice/Nicola excuses herself from the table.
    — Matt Cabral, EW.com, 26 May 2025
  • Keeping him healthy remains a priority, but as multiple players begin to show the benefits of consistent playing time, Herrera stands out as a prime example.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 26 May 2025
Definition of begin

Phrases Containing spring

Browse Nearby Words

sprigs
spring
spring (for)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spring. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on spring

Nglish: Translation of spring for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spring

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

Some Data About 'Datum'

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All