long jump

¹

noun

Track and Field.

1. a jump for distance from a running start.

2. a field event featuring competition in the long jump.

long-jump

²

[lawng-juhmp, long-]

verb (used without object)

1. Track and Field.,  to execute a long jump.

long jump

noun

1. Former Austral, US, and Canadian equivalent: broad jump. an athletic contest in which competitors try to cover the farthest distance possible with a running jump from a fixed board or mark

Other Word Forms

• long jumping noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of long jump¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Three of the five longest held men's world records in the most commonly contested events are jumps: the high jump, long jump and triple jump records were all set between 1991 and 1995.

From BBC

As a result, Hernandez was allowed to compete at the state finals in the girls’ long jump, high jump and triple jump, but her qualifying did not result in the exclusion of any cisgender girl.

From Los Angeles Times

Hernandez took gold in both the girls’ triple jump and girls’ high jump, and placed second in the girls’ long jump — but wasn’t alone in any of those spots.

From Los Angeles Times

Looking like an Olympic gymnast, Loren Webster successfully defended her state title in girls’ long jump, achieving a personal-best of 21 feet, 0¼ inches.

From Los Angeles Times

When her name was announced for the long jump, she waved to the crowd.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

What is the long jump?

The long jump is a track-and-field competition in which athletes attempt to complete the longest forward jump with a running start and a single leap. The long jump is sometimes also known as the broad jump.An attempt in this event (the jump itself) is also called a long jump.A competitor in the long jump is called a long jumper. Standard long jumps take place on a track with a running lane, a jumping area or takeoff board, and a sand pit to land in. The distance of the jump is measured from the edge of the takeoff board to the landing spot.The two main long jump techniques are the tuck (in which the long jumper pulls their knees upward and then extends them at the last second) and the hitch kick (in which the long jumper continues their running motion after they jump in the air and then brings their feet together and extends them in front of them).The long jump is a track-and-field event in the summer Olympic Games (the Summer Games) and it is also part of the modern decathlon.The long jump should not be confused with the high jump, which is a track-and-field (and decathlon) event in which athletes attempt to complete the highest jump over a crossbar. Like the long jump, the triple jump also begins with a running start, but (as the name implies) involves three jumping motions instead of the single leap used in the long jump.Example: I’m training for the long jump and the high jump with my track-and-field team.