Sprang
/spræŋ/
verbB2past tense
Definition
Sprang means to move or jump suddenly and quickly, often from a resting position. It is used to describe a fast, energetic movement, like a person or animal jumping up or forward quickly.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
To jump or move suddenly and quickly
- •She sprang out of bed when she heard the noise.
- •The cat sprang onto the table without warning.
- •He sprang forward to catch the ball.
To start or appear suddenly (used figuratively)
- •Ideas sprang to her mind during the meeting.
- •New problems sprang up after the project began.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'sprang' like 'jumped' (A1 word), but faster and more sudden, like a quick surprise move
- ✓Picture a cat sitting quietly and then suddenly leaping up with energy
- ✓It's the feeling of surprise or quick action when you suddenly stand up or run
- ✓Sounds like 'spring' → imagine a spring toy that suddenly jumps up when you press it
- ✓Think of stories where someone 'sprang into action' to help quickly in an emergency
- ✓NOT like 'walked' (slow, calm movement)—sprang is quick and sudden movement
- ✓NOT like 'fell' (accidental movement downwards)—sprang is active and upward or forward movement
- ✓NOT like 'ran' (continuous movement)—sprang is a single quick jump or movement
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Leaped: jumped high or far quickly (Use when emphasizing height or distance)
- •Bounded: jumped with large, strong movements (Use when the movement is energetic and strong)
- •Hopped: jumped lightly or repeatedly (Use when the jump is small or gentle)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: base word 'spring' (to jump or move suddenly); 'sprang' is the past tense form following an irregular pattern
- •Etymology: Old English 'springan' meaning to leap or burst forth
- •Historical development: Used since Old English times to describe sudden movements or actions
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in literature and spoken English to describe quick, sudden movements or reactions
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you sprang into action quickly? What caused it?
•How does the word 'sprang' change the feeling of a story compared to just saying 'jumped'?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.When the alarm rang, she sprang ___ her bed without hesitation.
2.The dog sprang ___ the fence to chase the squirrel.
3.Ideas sprang ___ her mind during the quiet moment in class.
4.Unlike walking slowly, he sprang ___ the door as soon as it opened.
5.The children sprang ___ excitement when they saw the ice cream truck.
6.The cat sprang ___ suddenly, surprising everyone in the room.
7.Problems sprang ___ after the new system was installed, causing delays.