spring
verb/sprɪŋ/
/sprɪŋ/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they spring | /sprɪŋ/ /sprɪŋ/ |
| he / she / it springs | /sprɪŋz/ /sprɪŋz/ |
| past simple sprang | /spræŋ/ /spræŋ/ |
| (North American English also) past simple sprung | /sprʌŋ/ /sprʌŋ/ |
| past participle sprung | /sprʌŋ/ /sprʌŋ/ |
| -ing form springing | /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/ /ˈsprɪŋɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] (of a person or an animal) to move suddenly and with one quick movement in a particular direction synonym leap
- The cat crouched ready to spring.
- + adv./prep. He turned off the alarm and sprang out of bed.
- She sprang back in alarm.
- Eric sprang forward and tackled the man to the ground.
- Everyone sprang to their feet (= stood up suddenly) when the principal walked in.
- She sprang from her chair and gave me a warm hug.
- The attacker sprang out at her from a doorway.
- (figurative) to spring to somebody's defence/assistance (= to quickly defend or help somebody)
Extra Examples- He sprang out of the car.
- Lisa sprang at him and kissed him on both cheeks.
- She sprang to her feet and ran to answer the doorbell.
- The sentry sprang to attention.
- One of the young police officers sprang to her assistance.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- suddenly
- apart
- away
- …
- be ready to
- be waiting to
- at
- into
- off
- …
- spring open
- spring to attention
- spring to your feet
- …
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- [intransitive] (of an object) to move suddenly and violently
- + adv./prep. The branch sprang back and hit him in the face.
- + adj. She turned the key and the lid sprang open.
Extra Examples- He worked a knife blade into the drawer and it sprang open.
- The drawer sprang open.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- suddenly
- apart
- away
- …
- be ready to
- be waiting to
- at
- into
- off
- …
- spring open
- spring to attention
- spring to your feet
- …
- [transitive] to do something, ask something or say something that somebody is not expecting
- spring something She sprang a surprise by winning the tournament.
- spring something on somebody I'm sorry to spring it on you, but I've been offered another job.
- [intransitive] + adv./prep. to appear or come somewhere suddenly
- Tears sprang to her eyes.
- He tried to bite back the words that sprang to his lips.
- [transitive] spring somebody (informal) to help a prisoner to escape
- Plans to spring the hostages have failed.
jump/move suddenly
surprise
appear suddenly
free prisoner
Word OriginOld English spring (noun), springan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German springen. Early use in the senses ‘head of a well’ and ‘rush out in a stream’ gave rise to the figurative use ‘originate’.
Idioms
See spring in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee spring in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishcome/spring to mind
- if something comes/springs to mind, you suddenly remember or think of it
- When discussing influential modern artists, three names immediately come to mind.
- I'm sure someone can help you, but no one immediately springs to mind.
hope springs eternal
- (saying) people never stop hoping
spring into action | spring into/to life
- (of a person, machine, etc.) to suddenly start working or doing something
- ‘Let's go!’ he said, springing into action.
- The town springs to life (= becomes busy) during the carnival.
spring a leak
- (of a boat or container) to develop a hole through which water or another liquid can pass
spring a trap
- to make a trap for catching animals close suddenly
- to try to trick somebody into doing or saying something; to succeed in this
Check pronunciation:
spring