What does leapfrogged mean?
Leapfrogged is the past tense and past participle of leapfrog. Literally, it describes jumping over another person, as children do in the game of leapfrog. Figuratively, it describes overtaking or surpassing a rival, often after a decisive and relatively rapid advance. The expression is especially common in business, technology, and political reporting, where it suggests that a person or organisation has gained a clear advantage over competitors. For example, a new product may allow a company to leapfrog its rivals, while a reform programme may be said to have leapfrogged more gradual changes in another country. The word is figurative rather than complimentary: it often implies that the advance was bold, efficient, or enabled by a significant advantage, but it does not necessarily mean that every person or organisation previously overtaken has been permanently outmatched. The base forms leapfrog and leapfrogging are also widely used.
verbLeapfrogged means jumped over, especially in the game in which one person vaults over another who is bending down. Figuratively, it means overtook or surpassed someone, often in a series of alternating advances.
- To jump or vault over a person, as in the game of leapfrog.
- To overtake or surpass another person, company, or competitor, especially by making a rapid advance.
"The breakthrough allowed the laboratory to leapfrog its competitors and establish a clear lead."
"The children leapfrogged across the playground in turn."
"With its new research platform, the company leapfrogged several established competitors."
From a children's game to a metaphor for bold, rapid progress: leapfrogging turns the idea of being overtaken into a way of getting ahead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does leapfrogged come from?
Leapfrog is a compound formed from the English words leap and frog. Its literal meaning refers to the game in which one player bends down while another jumps over them, probably recalling the springing movement of a frog. The verb developed from the noun and was later used figuratively for advancing past rivals in a series of competitive moves.
Related word forms
How leapfrogged is actually used
The literal sense is chiefly associated with the children's game. The figurative sense is common in journalism and business writing and conveys rapid, conspicuous progress or an advantage over rivals.