bounced; bouncing
2
: to cause to rebound or be reflected
bounce a ball
bounce a light ray off a reflector
3
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
Clark Boyd1
: 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
David Wenner7
: 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
Digby DiehlIn the past year, he's been the most visible rapper in the world, bouncing around the globe …—Christian Hoard
Christian Hoard
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
Rob Maaddi2
: 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
Michelle Cottle3
: 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
E. H. C. OliphantSynonyms
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
Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
At one point, a juror had her hand over her mouth watching as the camera bounced when Tejada joined the chest compressions.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2024
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2024
Music supervisor Jim Black papers the soundtrack with the kinds of pre-rock kitsch (by Guy Lombardo, Paul Whiteman, Frankie Laine, Doris Day, Henry Mancini et al.) that lend both nostalgic bounce and a winking ironic gloss to proceedings.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bounce 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Jones is best known for his work producing Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson, or his lifelong friendship with Ray Charles, but his film scores, bouncing with energy and groove, helped inspire a rethink of what was possible with movie music.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 4 Nov. 2024
At one point, a juror had her hand over her mouth watching as the camera bounced when Tejada joined the chest compressions.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
Volumizing shampoos, however, can hit that sweet spot, delivering bounce, body, and nourishment without adding time to wash day.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2024
Music supervisor Jim Black papers the soundtrack with the kinds of pre-rock kitsch (by Guy Lombardo, Paul Whiteman, Frankie Laine, Doris Day, Henry Mancini et al.) that lend both nostalgic bounce and a winking ironic gloss to proceedings.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bounce
Video
A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia
Some imitative words are more surprising than others
Dictionary Entries Near bounce
Cite this Entry
“Bounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bounce. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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