Meaning & use
by leaps and bounds
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
very quickly and in large amounts, especially of improvement or growth.
Grammar: Acts as an adverb; usually comes after a verb like grow, increase, improve, or expand.
Patterns
- grow by leaps and bounds
- improve by leaps and bounds
- increase by leaps and bounds
Her English has improved by leaps and bounds since she started watching shows without subtitles.
The company's profits grew by leaps and bounds after the new product launched.
Technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, making old devices obsolete quickly.
Common combinations
- grow by leaps and bounds
- The city's population has grown by leaps and bounds in the last decade.
- improve by leaps and bounds
- His piano playing improved by leaps and bounds after daily practice.
- advance by leaps and bounds
- Medical science advances by leaps and bounds every year.
- increase by leaps and bounds
- Online sales increased by leaps and bounds during the holiday season.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rapidly
- A neutral adverb meaning 'very quickly'; it does not suggest large amounts of progress, only speed.
- exponentially
- More formal and technical, used when something grows at an ever-increasing rate; 'by leaps and bounds' is more general and vivid.
Opposites
Commonly confused: by leaps and bounds or in leaps and bounds?
by leaps and bounds vs in leaps and bounds
This variant is used for literal jumping or movement, e.g. 'The deer moved in leaps and bounds.' Use 'by' for figurative progress.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence using the phrase.
Choose one answer.
'By leaps and bounds' is the fixed idiom for fast progress. 'In leaps and bounds' can describe physical jumping, and 'on' or 'with' do not form the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “by leaps and bounds”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.