verb

carom

KA-ruhm

Carom (verb) means to strike something and bounce off it at an angle, often going on to hit something else. Example: “The puck caromed off the boards and into the net.”

verb

To strike something and bounce off it at an angle, often going on to hit something else.

"The puck caromed off the boards and into the net."

"The bullet caromed away from the steel plate."

noun

A rebound in which a ball or other object strikes a surface and goes off at an angle instead of stopping.

"He scored on a lucky carom off the defender's skate."

In billiards, a shot in which the cue ball is made to hit two other balls in succession.

"The game is won on caroms rather than potting."

How to Use Carom

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWhen something caroms, it hits a surface and bounces off sideways.

When to use it

Standard English, most at home in sports commentary — hockey, basketball, baseball and billiards especially.

Memory tip

Carom is nearly always followed by off: the ball caroms off the post, not caroms the post.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

carrom (the South Asian board game) cameos charms

Common pairings

caroms off the wall caroms off the rim caroms into the net caroms out of bounds

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Test yourself on “carom” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The puck _____ off the boards and into the net.

Etymology

Plural and third-person singular of carom, shortened from carambole, from Spanish carambola, the name of the red ball in the old billiard game.

Origin: French

Synonyms

View more →

ricochet rebound glance off bounce deflection

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between carom and ricochet?

They describe the same bouncing motion, but ricochet suggests a sharper, faster, less predictable rebound and is often used of bullets. Carom is the everyday word in sports reporting for a ball glancing off a surface, and it is also the technical term for a billiards shot that hits two balls.

Is it carom or carrom?

They are different words. Carom is the billiards shot and the verb meaning to bounce off at an angle. Carrom, with two r's, is a board game played across South Asia in which discs are flicked into corner pockets.

Can carom be used outside sport?

Yes, though it is less common. You can say a car caromed off the guardrail, or use it figuratively of a conversation that caroms from one topic to the next.

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