by starts and leaps

prepositional phrase

In sudden short bursts; without being tidy and regular.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

prepositional phrase

alternative by leaps and starts

  1. In sudden short bursts; without being tidy and regular.

    Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a hurry.

    1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
by leaps and starts
Cite this entry
APA

by starts and leaps. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20starts%20and%20leaps

MLA

“by starts and leaps.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20starts%20and%20leaps. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “by starts and leaps,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20starts%20and%20leaps.

Source: by starts and leaps on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.