boomerang

American  

[boo-muh-rang] / ˈbu məˌræŋ /

noun

boomerangs plural

1. a bent or curved piece of tough wood used by Australian Aboriginal peoples as a throwing club, one form of which can be thrown so as to return to the thrower.

2. something, as a scheme or argument, that does injury to the originator.

3. Theater.

   1. a mobile platform, adjustable to different levels, for painting scenery.

   2. a batten, usually suspended vertically in the wings, for holding lighting units.

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verb (used without object)

boomerangs, present (3rd person singular) boomeranged, past participle, past boomeranging present participle

1. to come back or return, as a boomerang.

2. to cause harm to the originator; backfire.

adjective

1. coming back, returning, or backfiring.

   the boomerang consequences of his lies.

2. Informal. of or noting a person who returns to their parents’ home or to a previous job after a period of living or working elsewhere.

   a boomerang kid;

   boomerang employees.

boomerang British  

/ ˈbuːməˌræŋ /

noun

1. a curved flat wooden missile of native Australians, which can be made to return to the thrower

2. an action or statement that recoils on its originator

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verb

1. (intr) to recoil or return unexpectedly, causing harm to its originator; backfire

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• boomerangs
  plural

Participles

• boomeranging
  present
• boomeranged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• boomerang
  simple
• boomerangs
  simple
• have boomeranged
  perfect
• has boomeranged
  perfect
• am boomeranging
  progressive
• are boomeranging
  progressive
• is boomeranging
  progressive
• have been boomeranging
  perfect progressive
• has been boomeranging
  perfect progressive

Past

• boomeranged
  simple
• had boomeranged
  perfect
• was boomeranging
  progressive
• were boomeranging
  progressive
• had been boomeranging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will boomerang
  simple
• will have boomeranged
  perfect
• will be boomeranging
  progressive
• will have been boomeranging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of boomerang

First recorded in 1820–30; from Dharuk būmariny

Explanation

A boomerang is a curved piece of wood that returns to the thrower if tossed correctly. To boomerang is to bounce back to a previous position like a boomerang. This word comes whirling to us from an Australian language (Dharuk). The primary meaning is the curved stick that returns to its owner after being thrown. Not just anyone can make a boomerang return: it takes practice and skill. Because a boomerang returns to its original point, it’s also a verb for things that return. This is often used negatively for things you would rather not see again: if a lie boomerangs, it comes back to haunt you.

Example Sentences

Appeared in the March 13, 2026, print edition as 'The Gerrymander Boomerang in Virginia'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

Players take on the role of the Suicide Squad - Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark and Captain Boomerang - four dangerous villains in the DC Comics universe.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2024

Forest Service in September 2019, Richards took the team to Boomerang Cave in the Bear River Range where they collected specimens for lab analysis at the museum.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2023

This comes after the initial announcement that Michael Ouweleen, who previously ran TCM and is now in charge of Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Adult Swim and Discovery Family would serve as the network’s new head.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2023

His voice was colder than the Boomerang Nebula.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson