leapfrog

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "leapfrog" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a physical game in which two or more players take turns jumping over each other's backs. For example, "The children were having a great time playing leapfrog in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Poorer countries need to be supported in their efforts to leapfrog the fossil-fuel-driven development model that created wealth in the global north, but which also caused the climate crisis we now face.

The Guardian

Having failed to win or lose in three games in this competition this season, Tottenham will leapfrog Maribor to go second in the Group J table should they beat them tonight.

The Guardian - Sport

Developing countries have the opportunity to leapfrog the west in economic development, if they go straight to clean technology while rich countries struggle to wean themselves off fossil fuels, president Francois Hollande of France said on Wednesday.

The Guardian

Come snow, ice, rain or hurricane, you'll always find me at 8.45am playing sideways leapfrog with the number three bus down Croxted Road, towards Brixton, on across the Thames and then, darting among the barrelling traffic, up into the tight streets of London's West End.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Australia will leapfrog them if they win the fourth Test in Melbourne after Christmas, a remarkable turnaround after they started the series in fifth, 15 ranking points behind England.

The Guardian - Sport

Ronny Deila's side did enough to keep three points intact but will have to be sharper in their home Europa League clash with Salzburg on Thursday night, where they hope to leapfrog the Group D leaders, whom they trail by two points.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Farage is standing in Tory-held Thanet South, where he is confident of leapfrogging all three established Westminster parties, to win.

The Guardian

Italy only has three of its restaurants in the list this year, but its highest placed entry, Osteria Francescana, is up into second place, leapfrogging Noma.

The Guardian

Skateboarding children yelp excitedly: "It's Tim Farron", a resident in pink slippers collars him to complain about Poles leapfrogging the council housing list, and Calum, eight, invites him for a kickabout, which he immediately accepts, going in goal and high-fiving Calum when they score.

The Guardian

It's going to be a more effective shortcut to stuff that needs doing, and leapfrogs Android.

The Guardian - Tech

This album's 11th-hour manifestation – even its uppercase title, BEYONCÉ, looked like someone jumping out from behind a bush with a klaxon – meant that it was too late for inclusion on most end-of-year lists, but as well as leapfrogging music critics, its release depended on precisely zero airplay, hinged on not one TV appearance, and was not even teased online.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leapfrog" to describe situations where progress is made by bypassing intermediary steps, especially in technology or economic development.

Common error

Avoid using "leapfrog" when simply describing one entity passing another. "Leapfrog" implies a strategic jump or bypassing of stages, not just a linear advancement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "leapfrog" is as a verb, describing the action of surpassing or advancing beyond something, often by bypassing intermediary steps. Ludwig examples show it used to describe countries that leapfrog traditional development models.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leapfrog" is a verb that describes surpassing or advancing beyond something, often by bypassing intermediary steps. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in a variety of contexts, with frequent occurrence in News & Media, Formal & Business and Science. Use "leapfrog" to imply strategic advancement and innovation, but avoid using it when simple overtaking is meant. Related phrases include "surpass", "outstrip", and "overtake". The phrase has a neutral register and is suitable for diverse communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surpass

Emphasizes exceeding a limit or expectation.

outstrip

Suggests exceeding something, often in quantity or rate.

overtake

Focuses on moving past something or someone, often in a competitive sense.

jump ahead of

Implies a sudden or quick advancement.

move past

Indicates a progression beyond a previous state or position.

eclipse

Implies overshadowing or diminishing the importance of something else.

exceed

Suggests surpassing a numerical or measurable value.

leave behind

Conveys the sense of advancing so much as to create a gap.

ascend beyond

Suggests rising to a higher level or status.

outdo

Implies surpassing in performance or achievement.

FAQs

How can I use "leapfrog" in a sentence?

"Leapfrog" can be used to describe bypassing traditional stages of development, such as in "Developing countries can "leapfrog" old technologies by adopting mobile solutions".

What does it mean to "leapfrog" a competitor?

To "leapfrog" a competitor means to surpass them, often by innovating or adopting strategies that allow you to bypass their current advantages.

When is it appropriate to use "leapfrog" instead of "overtake"?

Use "leapfrog" when the advancement involves skipping steps or using innovative strategies to surpass, while "overtake" simply means to move ahead of something else in a linear manner.

Is "leapfrogging" a correct verb form?

Yes, "leapfrogging" is the present participle and gerund form of "leapfrog" and is correctly used in continuous tenses, such as "The company is "leapfrogging" its rivals by investing in AI".