spring
Base form
spring
/sprɪŋ/
Past simple
sprangsprang / sprung
/spræŋ//spræŋ/ /sprʌŋ/
Past participle
sprung
/sprʌŋ/
MeaningB2
to move or jump suddenly
to spring a surprise on someone
In use
- After a modal verb · Form 1The lid might spring open if you press this button.
- Negative · Form 1Don’t spring a surprise like that on me again!
- Past simple · Form 2Yesterday the cat sprang onto the kitchen table.
- Past simple · Form 2Last night the firefighters sprang into action within seconds.
- Present perfect · Form 3A new café has sprung up near the station.
- Past perfect · Form 3By morning the old boat had sprung a leak.
Watch out
Like ring: sprang, then sprung after has; American English also uses sprung in the past. Springed and sprunged are wrong.
Irregular VerbsLearn all three forms for good
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