spring

To jump suddenly or quickly, often over a distance.

• The cat sprang forward.
• He sprang out of bed when the alarm rang.
• Can you spring over that low wall?

How to use it: spring from something (The cat sprang from the chair.); spring to your feet (She sprang to her feet.)

Similar words: leap, jump

Common phrases: spring up, spring forward, spring into action

To appear or come out suddenly, or suddenly develop an opening that lets liquid through.

• The boat sprang a leak.
• Tears sprang to his eyes at the news.
• A deer sprang into view beside the road.

How to use it: spring a leak (Our boat sprang a leak.); spring from something (Tears sprang from her eyes.)

Similar words: burst forth, emerge

Common phrases: spring a leak, spring from something, spring into view

To suddenly become active, lively, or full of energy.

• The machine sprang to life.
• The quiet village springs to life during the festival.
• My phone screen sprang to life with a message.

How to use it: spring to life (The engine sprang to life.)

Similar words: come alive, come to life

Common phrases: spring to life, spring into life

The season between winter and summer, when the weather gets warmer and plants begin to grow.

• Flowers open in spring.
• We visited Japan last spring.
• Does your garden look beautiful every spring?

Common phrases: in spring, early spring, spring flowers, spring weather

A flexible metal part that bends or stretches and then returns to its earlier shape.

• The spring in this pen is broken.
• This mattress has hundreds of springs.
• Pressing the button squeezes a small spring inside.

Common phrases: metal spring, bed spring, coil spring, steel spring

A place where water comes naturally out of the ground.

• We drank water from a spring.
• Hot springs attract visitors to the valley.
• A small spring feeds the stream behind our house.

Similar words: water source

Common phrases: hot spring, natural spring, spring water