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View synonyms for bounce

bounce

[bouns]

verb (used without object)

bounced, bouncing 
  1. to spring back from a surface in a lively manner.

    The ball bounced off the wall.

  2. to strike the ground or other surface, and rebound.

    The ball bounced once before he caught it.

  3. to move or walk in a lively, exuberant, or energetic manner.

    She bounced into the room.

  4. to move along in a lively manner, repeatedly striking the surface below and rebounding.

    The box bounced down the stairs.

  5. to move about or enter or leave noisily or angrily (followed by around, about, out, out of, into, etc.).

    He bounced out of the room in a huff.

  6. (of a check or the like) to fail to be honored by the bank against which it was drawn, due to lack of sufficient funds.



verb (used with object)

bounced, bouncing 
  1. to cause to bound and rebound.

    to bounce a ball; to bounce a child on one's knee; to bounce a signal off a satellite.

  2. to refuse payment on (a check) because of insufficient funds.

    The bank bounced my rent check.

  3. to give (a bad check) as payment.

    That's the first time anyone bounced a check on me.

  4. Slang.,  to eject, expel, or dismiss summarily or forcibly.

noun

  1. a bound or rebound.

    to catch a ball on the first bounce.

  2. a sudden spring or leap.

    In one bounce he was at the door.

  3. ability to rebound; resilience.

    This tennis ball has no more bounce.

  4. vitality; energy; liveliness.

    There is bounce in his step. This soda water has more bounce to it.

  5. the fluctuation in magnitude of target echoes on a radarscope.

  6. Slang.,  a dismissal, rejection, or expulsion.

    He's gotten the bounce from three different jobs.

adverb

  1. with a bounce; suddenly.

verb phrase

  1. bounce back,  to recover quickly.

    After losing the first game of the double-header, the team bounced back to win the second.

bounce

/ baʊns /

verb

  1. (intr) (of an elastic object, such as a ball) to rebound from an impact

  2. (tr) to cause (such an object) to hit a solid surface and spring back

  3. to rebound or cause to rebound repeatedly

  4. to move or cause to move suddenly, excitedly, or violently; spring

    she bounced up from her chair

  5. slang,  (of a bank) to send (a cheque) back or (of a cheque) to be sent back unredeemed because of lack of funds in the drawer's account

  6. (of an internet service provider) to send (an email message) back or (of an email message) to be sent back to the sender, for example because the recipient's email account is full

  7. slang,  (tr) to force (a person) to leave (a place or job); throw out; eject

  8. (tr) to hustle (a person) into believing or doing something

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the action of rebounding from an impact

  2. a leap; jump; bound

  3. the quality of being able to rebound; springiness

  4. informal,  vitality; vigour; resilience

  5. swagger or impudence

  6. informal,  a temporary increase or rise

  7. Australian rules football the start of play at the beginning of each quarter or after a goal

  8. informal,  to dismiss or be dismissed from a job

  9. informal,  in succession; one after the other

    they have lost nine games on the bounce

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • bounceable adjective
  • bounceably adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bounce1

1175–1225; Middle English buncin, bounsen, variant of bunkin, apparently cognate with Dutch bonken to thump, belabor, bonzen to knock, bump
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bounce1

C13: probably of imitative origin; compare Low German bunsen to beat, Dutch bonken to thump
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Idioms and Phrases

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ecclestone's bounce, Dean's turn and Smith's drift are proving to be a nightmare for opposing batters on slow surfaces.

Read more on BBC

The turn and bounce must have had Ecclestone itching to get the ball in hand but she was held back until the 19th over.

Read more on BBC

Williams plans to do the same on the field when the Rams attempt to bounce back against the Ravens.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The southern half of the Golden State still has not bounced back from the last year of below-average rainfall, and the reemergence of the ocean phenomenon could mean more drought, with another drier-than-average winter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Delta said it expects travel demand to continue to bounce back and is aiming for a record holiday season.

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bounbounce around