Phrase guide

jump ship

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To depart from a ship, especially without permission.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: nautical, transport

Examples

  • As soon as the battleship docked in Singapore, Roger jumped ship, never to return.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To leave something, especially suddenly or rapidly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • I couldn't hack it as a teacher, so I jumped ship and flew back to Australia.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 離船 /离船 (líchuán) — depart from a ship
  • Chinese Mandarin: 棄船 /弃船 (qìchuán) — depart from a ship
  • Finnish: hypätä laivasta — depart from a ship
  • Chinese Mandarin: 潛逃 /潜逃 (qiántáo) — leave suddenly
  • Chinese Mandarin: 跳槽 (tiàocáo) — leave suddenly
  • Dutch: er tussenuit knijpen — leave suddenly
  • Finnish: hypätä veneestä — leave suddenly
  • French: abandonner le navire. — leave suddenly
  • Italian: abbandonare la nave — leave suddenly
  • Polish: uciec z tonącego okrętu — leave suddenly
  • Polish: porzucić pracę — leave suddenly
  • Portuguese: pular fora — leave suddenly
  • Spanish: abandonar el barco — leave suddenly