bounce
bowns
Bounce (verb) means to spring back after hitting a surface, or to move up and down repeatedly. Example: “The puppy bounced happily across the garden after its favourite ball.”
verb
1
To spring back after hitting a surface, or to move up and down repeatedly.
"The puppy bounced happily across the garden after its favourite ball."
"The ball bounced off the wall and rolled under the sofa."
"The kids were bouncing on the trampoline for hours."
2
Of a cheque or payment: to be rejected by a bank because there isn't enough money in the account.
"I was embarrassed when my payment bounced at the till."
"If you pay late, the cheque may bounce and you will be charged a fee."
"His rent cheque bounced twice that year."
3
To try an idea out on someone to get their reaction.
"Let me bounce this idea off you before the meeting."
noun
1
A rebound, or the quality of springing back easily.
"Dad checked the bounce of the football before the match began."
"These trainers give each step a nice bit of bounce."
"The new mattress has a lot of bounce to it."
How to use bounce
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo spring back off a surface; also used for a cheque that fails to clear, or for testing an idea on someone.
Common mistake
In email, a "bounced" message is one that failed to deliver — this is a separate, common tech usage.
Common pairings
bounce off
bounce a cheque
bounce an idea off someone
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like bounce.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- bounces
- Third person singular
- bounces
- Past tense
- bounced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The puppy _____ happily across the garden after its favourite ball.
Etymology
From Middle English bounsen, "to beat or thump," likely imitative of the sound of something striking a surface.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for bounce
See all rhymes for bounce →Frequently asked questions
What does “bounce” mean?
The word “bounce” means to spring back after hitting a surface, or to move up and down repeatedly. In plain terms, to spring back off a surface; also used for a cheque that fails to clear, or for testing an idea on someone.
How do you pronounce “bounce”?
“Bounce” is pronounced bowns (/baʊns/ in IPA).
How do you use “bounce” in a sentence?
Here is “bounce” used in a sentence: “The ball bounced off the wall and rolled under the sofa.”
What part of speech is “bounce”?
Depending on how it is used, “bounce” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “bounce” come from?
The word “bounce” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bounsen, "to beat or thump," likely imitative of the sound of something striking a surface.
Is “bounce” a common word?
“Bounce” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “bounce” have?
“Bounce” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to spring back after hitting a surface, or to move up and down repeatedly.
What is the difference between bounce and rebound?
Both describe springing back after hitting a surface, but bounce is the everyday word and can also describe repeated up-and-down movement. Rebound is slightly more formal or technical and usually describes a single deflection, as in sport or physics. Figuratively, people "bounce back" from setbacks, while prices and players "rebound."
