1 A2 neutral
To leap from a surface, platform, or vehicle.
"She jumped off the diving board and entered the water perfectly."
jump off
A2 informal intransitive
To leap from a surface or platform; figuratively, to start suddenly or launch into something.
In plain English
To leap away from something, or to begin something suddenly.
What does "jump off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
(Informal) To begin or launch into something with energy.
"The campaign jumped off strongly with thousands of sign-ups in the first week."
3 C1 idiomatic slang
(American slang) For a conflict or chaotic event to suddenly break out.
"Nobody saw the argument coming — things just jumped off out of nowhere."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To spring away from a surface — transparent.
Actually means
To leap away from something, or to begin something suddenly.
Usage tip
The literal sense is very common and transparent. The figurative 'launch' sense is common in informal American English ('the project jumped off well'). Also used in American slang to mean a fight or confrontation broke out ('things jumped off at the party').
Words that pair with "jump off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
bridge cliff stage trampoline project career shelf
How to conjugate "jump off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
jump off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
jumps off
he/she/it
Past simple
jumped off
yesterday
Past participle
jumped off
have + pp
-ing form
jumping off
continuous
Hear "jump off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "jump off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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