Irregular verb
The verb to spring
spring → sprang → sprung
B2Meaning: to jump suddenly; to appear suddenly · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they spring·he/she/it springs - Past Simple:
sprang(UK) orsprung(also accepted in the US) - Past participle:
sprung - -ing form:
springing
Conjugation of the verb to spring
Present Simple
| I | spring |
| You | spring |
| He / She / It | springs |
| We | spring |
| You (pl.) | spring |
| They | spring |
Past Simple
| I | sprang |
| You | sprang |
| He / She / It | sprang |
| We | sprang |
| You (pl.) | sprang |
| They | sprang |
All the forms of the verb to spring
Present Simple
Full pagespring / springs
“The cat springs onto the table.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are springing
“I am springing out of bed right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagesprang (UK) / sprang or sprung (US)
“The cat sprang onto the table.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were springing
“I was springing out of bed when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has sprung
“I have already sprung out of bed.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad sprung
“She had already sprung out of bed when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill spring
“I will spring out of bed tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to spring
“I'm going to spring out of bed this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould spring
“I would spring out of bed if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to spring
1. Jumping suddenly
- The lion sprang at its prey.
- I sprang out of bed.
2. Appearing suddenly
Spring to mind means to come into your head. Tears sprang to her eyes means she suddenly started to cry.
- A new idea sprang to mind.
- Tears sprang to her eyes.
3. Spring (noun)
As a noun, spring is the season after winter, a piece of metal that goes back to its shape, or a place where water comes out of the ground.
- I love spring.
- A spring of fresh water.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. No spring chicken = not young
A spring chicken is an idiom for a young person, usually in the negative. I'm no spring chicken any more means I am not young any more. It has nothing to do with real chickens.
2. Spring break
In the US, spring break is a holiday in spring, especially for students. Many of them go to Florida to party. It is a very big tradition there.
What's next?
You can conjugate to spring. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of spring?+
The Past Simple of spring is sprang (standard in the UK). Sprung is also accepted in American English. The past participle is sprung. Spring → sprang → sprung. Same vowel pattern (i → a → u): drink → drank → drunk, sing → sang → sung.
Does spring mean a season or to jump?+
Both! Spring has several meanings. (1) Verb: to jump or appear suddenly: the cat sprang onto the table. (2) Noun: the season after winter: I love spring. (3) Noun: a piece of metal that goes back to its shape: a metal spring. (4) Noun: a place where water comes out of the ground: a natural spring. The context always makes it clear.
What does spring to mind mean?+
Spring to mind is an idiom: an idea comes into your head quickly, on its own. The first thing that springs to mind is pizza. Imagine an idea that jumps up like a spring.
What is spring break?+
Spring break is a holiday in spring (often in March) in the American school and university system. Many students go away together to party, in Florida or Mexico for example. You see it in many American films. It is different from the British half-term, a shorter school break.
What is spring cleaning?+
Spring cleaning means cleaning your whole home very carefully, in spring. It is a tradition in many countries. People also use it for sorting out papers or computer files. Time for some spring cleaning!
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/spring
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.