Word jumping in iTerm2 or Terminal in OSX Lion

Just add the escape sequences in iTerm settings as global shortcut keys.

Word backward (option-arrowleft):

Same with word forward, just use F.

mission control took over the same commands as word jumping. thanks to rob cowrie and nicholas riley for the heads-up on that.

Killing a fly with a cannon:

• Go to Preferences... > Profiles > Keys
• Press Load Preset...
• Select Natural Text Editing

Then, you can move a word backwards using Option ⌥ + ← and a word forwards using Option ⌥ + →, move to the start of the line using fn + ← and to the end of the line with fn + →. Also you can delete a word backwards using Option ⌥ + ⌫, delete the whole line using Command ⌘ + ⌫.

If the preset doesn't appear, reinstall iTerm2. If you installed it using Homebrew+Cask:

brew cask reinstall iterm2

source and credits https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/293988/330806

The easiest/quickest way I have found is under Profiles > Keys > 'Load Preset...' > 'Natural Text Editing'.

Then use the option key rather than the control key.

(iterm2 version 3)