bounce

1 of 2

verb

bounced; bouncing

transitive verb

1
obsolete : beat, bump
2
: to cause to rebound or be reflected
bounce a ball
bounce a light ray off a reflector
3
a
b
: to expel precipitately from a place
c
: to eliminate from a competition by defeating
was bounced from the tournament in the first round
4
: to issue (a check) drawn on an account with insufficient funds
5
: to present (something, such as an idea) to another person to elicit comments or to gain approval
usually used with off
6
: to return (an email) to the sender with notification of failed delivery
Other potential authors proved simply too hard to reach. E-mails got bounced back, and many phone calls never went through.Clark Boyd

intransitive verb

1
: to rebound or reflect after striking a surface (such as the ground)
2
: to recover from a blow or a defeat quickly
usually used with back
3
: to be returned by a bank because of insufficient funds in a checking account
His checks bounced.
4
a
: to leap suddenly : bound
b
: to walk with springing steps
5
: to hit a baseball so that it hits the ground before it reaches an infielder
6
of an email : to return to the sender with notification of failed delivery
Gonzalez had the wrong addresses for the local executives, and his emails bounced back.David Wenner
7
: to go quickly and usually repeatedly from one place, situation, job, etc., to another
The story bounces from one parallel universe to the next …Digby Diehl
In the past year, he's been the most visible rapper in the world, bouncing around the globe …Christian Hoard
8
US, informal : leave, depart
Some of Hollywood's finest … reportedly had difficulty getting in and decided to bounce.Kenya N. Byrd

bounce

2 of 2

noun

plural bounces
1
: the act or action of bouncing off the ground or another surface : a rebound off a surface
caught the ball on the second bounce
… his liner … to right-center took an odd bounce off the wall.Rob Maaddi
2
: a sudden increase or improvement in rating or value
As Gore rode his post-convention bounce, the media started eyeballing Bush for signs of anxiety.Michelle Cottle
3
: a lively or energetic quality : verve, liveliness
full of bounce and enthusiasm
still has plenty of bounce in his step
4
: bluster sense 3
In William II the bullying spirit has developed into bounce and swagger …E. H. C. Oliphant

Examples of bounce in a Sentence

Verb He was bouncing a tennis ball against the garage door. bouncing the ball back and forth The children love to bounce on the bed. The winner bounced up and down with delight. Her curls bounced as she jumped. He bounced the baby on his knee. She gave me a check for 20 dollars, but the check bounced, and I never got the money. He bounced a 100-dollar check at the grocery store. The store charges a $15 fee for a bounced check. Noun The ball took a high bounce over the shortstop's head. He caught the ball on the first bounce. a basketball that has lost all its bounce The shampoo promises to give limp hair lots of bounce. After the debates, she enjoyed a big bounce in the election polls.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
After bouncing between bands, Carmen eventually landed with the Raspberries in 1967, a pop rock band in the style of The Beatles and The Who, that quickly rose to acclaim. Shania Russell, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2024 Peso bounces in cheerfully, wearing a white T-shirt and blue basketball shorts, a black backward cap covering his signature mullet. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 The siren song of a bouncing basketball led Bobby Cremins all over the Carolinas. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 28 Feb. 2024 Fisher-Price Bounce and Spin Interactive Puppy Buy on Amazon For toddlers who love to bounce, this adorable dog provides them with a safe, sturdy way to move. Christine Luff, Parents, 27 Feb. 2024 Inspired by a ball game played indoors by aristocrats for centuries, Wingfield’s innovation was to move the game outside and replace the leather ball with a bouncing rubber one. Chip Colwell, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 But this wasn’t just any case — and Rush’s analogy was spot on for the long-running legal dispute that bounced through at least five different courts. Tim Evans, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024 The ball caromed off the back of the iron, bounced, hit the side rim and dropped cleanly through the net. Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 This ogre-sized play area features four fun slides, wet play areas, and a playground where guests can climb, bounce, and splash around as well as venture into Shrek’s outhouse. EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
Dante got the bounce on a jump hook to put Oregon back up by three points before Andrews countered with a driving layup with 11 seconds to go. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 When used as a duo, expect softer hair with bounce and lift. Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The Chiefs' first touchdown was set up by a weird bounce on a puntlate in the third quarter, as the ball ricocheted off Darrell Luter Jr. and was recovered at the 49ers' 16-yard line. USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024 Step in the Ouai Hair Gloss that in one pea-sized drop (or two-pea sized drops for thicker or textured hair) will smooth and add instant bounce and shine. Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 How no kid just went bounce [smack motion] is beyond me. Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024 The guitars and bass bounce along to the beat as Clarkson digs deep in her lungs for the guttural notes of the pre-chorus and the lightness of the chorus. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 Its construction also features medium bounce control technology in the cups that help keep your bust secure and supported during exercise. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 Rush would talk to the jumpers, then toss mid-sentence to surprise them; Javie and current NBA ref czar Monty McCutchen would also bounce the ball while talking, randomizing their bounce height and the number of bounces to keep players guessing. Peter Rubin, Longreads, 24 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bounce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bounsen

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bounce was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near bounce

Cite this Entry

“Bounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bounce. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bounce

1 of 2 verb
bounced; bouncing
1
a
: to cause to rebound
bounce a ball
b
: to spring back or up after striking a surface
2
: to remove from a place by force
3
: to recover quickly from a blow or defeat
bounced back after the loss
4
: to leap suddenly : bound
5
of a check : to be returned by a bank because of lack of funds in a checking account

bounce

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: a sudden leap or bound
b
: a bouncing back : rebound
2
bouncy adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on bounce

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