spring

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/sprɪŋ/
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The season after winter, natural water rising from the ground, elastic force, quick leaps, sudden movement, origins, and abrupt release or disclosure.
Practice using spring in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The pen's spring clicked under his thumb.
  • The lawyer helped spring him from jail.
  • The horse sprang over the gate.
  • The village grew around a reliable spring.
  • Spring arrived early after a mild winter.

Similar words

bound
sprout
emerge
originate
dart
jump
resilience
trigger
arise
appear

Meanings

Season after winter

noun
weather
neutral
The season between winter and summer, marked in temperate places by warmer weather, new growth, and longer days.

Examples

  • Spring arrived early after a mild winter.
  • The garden fills with colour every spring.
  • They plan to travel in spring.
  • Many birds return during spring migration.
  • The spring term begins next week.
  • Rain is common here in spring.

Similar words

springtime

Natural water source

noun
nature
neutral
A place where groundwater flows naturally from the earth, often feeding a pool, stream, or river.

Examples

  • A clear spring flows below the cliff.
  • The village grew around a reliable spring.
  • We filled our bottles at the mountain spring.
  • Mineral water rises from the spring.
  • The spring feeds a small stream.
  • The drought did not stop the old spring.

Similar words

source
wellspring

Elastic device or bounce

noun
mechanics
neutral
A flexible or coiled piece that returns toward its shape after pressure, and the lively bounce that comes from that resilience.

Examples

  • The door closes with a steel spring.
  • The mattress has soft springs inside.
  • There is a lively spring in her step.
  • The board still has enough spring.
  • A broken spring made the latch stick.
  • The pen's spring clicked under his thumb.

Similar words

coil
resilience
bounce

Sudden leap

noun
movement
neutral
A quick jump or bound, usually upward or forward.

Examples

  • The cat made a quick spring onto the table.
  • His first spring cleared the ditch.
  • The dancer's spring looked effortless.
  • A strong spring carried him over the bar.
  • The frog's spring surprised the child.
  • The athlete saved energy for one final spring.

Similar words

leap
jump
bound
hop

Move suddenly

verb
movement
neutral
To jump, move, or burst suddenly in a new direction.

Examples

  • She sprang from her chair.
  • The dog springs at every knock.
  • The lid sprang open.
  • He sprang into action.
  • The horse sprang over the gate.
  • The crowd sprang back from the sparks.

Similar words

leap
jump
bound
dart
burst

Originate or appear

verb
abstract
neutral
To come from a source, begin growing, or appear quickly.

Examples

  • The rumor sprang from one careless comment.
  • New shops sprang up along the road.
  • Hope springs from small victories.
  • Flowers sprang from the wet soil.
  • The plan sprang from a late-night call.
  • Questions spring to mind at once.

Similar words

arise
originate
emerge
appear
sprout

Trigger or reveal suddenly

verb
everyday
informal
To make something open, start, escape, or become known suddenly.

Examples

  • They sprang the surprise after dinner.
  • The guard sprang the trap too soon.
  • The lawyer helped spring him from jail.
  • The storm sprang a leak in the roof.
  • Do not spring bad news in public.
  • The host sprang a new rule on the guests.

Similar words

trigger
release
reveal
spring loose
set off

Etymology

From Old English springan, meaning to leap, burst forth, or arise, with noun senses growing from the same idea of something coming out or rebounding.

FAQ

What does spring mean as a season?

It means the season after winter and before summer, often linked with warmer weather and new growth.

What is a water spring?

A water spring is a place where groundwater naturally flows out of the earth.

What is a mechanical spring?

A mechanical spring is a flexible or coiled part that stores and releases energy by bending, stretching, or compressing.

What does spring mean as a verb?

As a verb, spring means to jump or move suddenly, or to appear or come from a source.

What is the past tense of spring?

The usual past tense is sprang, and the usual past participle is sprung.

Can spring mean a jump?

Yes. A spring can be a quick leap or bound.

What does spring from mean?

Spring from means to originate or come from a source or cause.

What does spring a surprise mean?

It means to reveal or present a surprise suddenly.

What does spring someone from jail mean?

It means to free someone from jail, often in informal or dramatic language.

Is Spring Framework the same entry?

No. Spring Framework is a capitalized software name, while this entry covers the ordinary lowercase word spring.

Comments & contributions

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Smoky Plover
Jul 6
En mi ingles de escuela decia the spring para todo, pero next spring no lleva the
0
Reply
Rustic Dove
Jul 3
Spring Framework got me once.
0
Reply
Lunar Penguin
Jul 3
in Canada its spring forward fall back every single March lol
1
Reply
Lunar Lynx
Jul 2
The lid sprung open sounds normal to me, but school tests still want sprang there
1
Reply
Sincere Pelican
Jul 3
same for me, sprang in exams, sprung after has
0
Contribution
Early Macaw
Jun 25
spring tide catches learners out. It is not seasonal, it is the bigger tide around new moon or full moon. Opposite word is neap tide.
2
Reply
Hardy Trout
Jun 26
our sailing instructor said think of the water springing up, and then it finally stayed in my head
0
Contribution
Scarlet Marmot
Jun 17
One American bit missing here: spring for something means pay for it. If a friend says I will spring for dinner, they are offering to cover the bill, not talking about movement. Feels casual, a little old-fashioned maybe, but totally understandable.
4
Reply
Maple Salamander
Jun 19
yeah I hear this from Americans more than Brits. I get it, just dont say it myself
1
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