Meaning & use
jump at
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Meanings
verbphrasal verbinformal
To accept an opportunity or offer quickly and with enthusiasm.
Grammar: The object follows at: jump at the chance. It cannot be split.
Patterns
- jump at the chance
- jump at an offer
- jump at something
She jumped at the chance to study abroad.
Any sensible buyer would jump at that price.
verbphrasal verb
To move suddenly toward someone or something in order to attack or grab it.
Grammar: A literal use with a person or thing as the object.
Patterns
- jump at someone
The dog jumped at the fence when the mailman came.
The cat jumped at the toy mouse.
Word forms
| third person singular | jumps at |
|---|---|
| past tense | jumped at |
| past participle | jumped at |
| -ing form | jumping at |
Common combinations
- jump at the chance
- He jumped at the chance to lead the project.
- jump at the offer
- They jumped at the offer without thinking.
- jump at the opportunity
- I'd jump at the opportunity to travel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- seize
- Seize sounds more formal and suggests grabbing an opportunity firmly.
- snap up
- Snap up suggests acting fast to get something before others do.
- leap at
- Leap at is nearly identical, with slightly more dramatic enthusiasm.
Opposites
Commonly confused: jump at or jump on?
jump at vs jump on
Jump on can mean to criticize or attack someone suddenly, while jump at means to accept eagerly.
Practice
If someone says they would 'jump at' a job offer, they would
Choose one answer.
Jump at means accept with enthusiasm and speed. The other options describe hesitation or refusal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “jump at”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.