as in breakthrough
a sudden large change or improvement
Prices have taken a quantum leap upward. The new drug is a quantum leap in the fight against cancer.
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Recent Examples of quantum leap
The quantum leap Bedard has taken this season is more than just scoring more goals, creating more of his own offense, running a more dangerous power play.
—
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
And then comes your quantum leap.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025
The record is a quantum leap, toying with all conventional notions of style, order, and shape.—Sheldon Pearce (Brooklyn Paramount; Dec. 1-2.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
Don Toliver made the quantum leap to rap’s A list with the arrival of the Houston native’s OCTANE album in January.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for quantum leap
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
And then comes your quantum leap.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025
The record is a quantum leap, toying with all conventional notions of style, order, and shape.—Sheldon Pearce (Brooklyn Paramount; Dec. 1-2.
—Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
Don Toliver made the quantum leap to rap’s A list with the arrival of the Houston native’s OCTANE album in January.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for quantum leap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quantum leap
Noun
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The show, which featured a sizzling performance by Walton Goggins, as an authoritarian vigilante, was an avant-garde breakthrough for television.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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The push comes at a moment when Indonesia’s film industry is generating outstanding local box office but hasn’t yet converted that momentum into consistent international breakthrough.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Rice University’s Kinder Institute study found that newcomer students in the kindergarten through fifth grade age range who are eligible for intensive newcomer English programs experience a measurable academic boost, lasting up to three years after eligibility.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
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Ewing and Cortes have the potential to help fantasy managers who need a boost to their lineup.—
Mike Barner,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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But those key areas do need strengthening, especially with Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers likely to be strong next season, along with whoever else drops out of the Premier League.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
3 May 2026
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The initiative will also support developing countries through outreach such as training, advisory services and institutional strengthening.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quantum leap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quantum%20leap. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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