bounce

¹bounce

verb \ˈbau̇n(t)s\

bounced bounc·ing

Definition of BOUNCE

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 : dismiss, fire

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 (as an idea) to another person to elicit comments or to gain approval —usually used with off

intransitive verb

1

: to rebound or reflect after striking a surface (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 bounce>

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

Examples of BOUNCE

1. He was bouncing a tennis ball against the garage door.
2. bouncing the ball back and forth
3. The children love to bounce on the bed.
4. The winner bounced up and down with delight.
5. Her curls bounced as she jumped.
6. He bounced the baby on his knee.
7. She gave me a check for 20 dollars, but the check bounced, and I never got the money.
8. He bounced a 100-dollar check at the grocery store.
9. The store charges a $15 fee for a bounced check.

Origin of BOUNCE

Middle English bounsen

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to BOUNCE

Synonyms

banish, boot (out), eject, cast out, chase, dismiss, drum (out), expel, extrude, kick out, oust, out, rout, run off, throw out, turf (out) [chiefly British], turn out

Antonyms

employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on

Related Words

deforce, deport, displace, dispossess, evict, exile, expatriate, ostracize, read out, shut out; ax (or axe), can, cashier, defenestrate, discharge, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, retire, sack, terminate

Near Antonyms

accept, admit, receive, take, take in; welcome; entertain, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

²bounce

noun

Definition of BOUNCE

1

a : a sudden leap or bound

b : rebound

2

: bluster

3

: verve, liveliness

Examples of BOUNCE

1. The ball took a high bounce over the shortstop's head.
2. He caught the ball on the first bounce.
3. a basketball that has lost all its bounce
4. The shampoo promises to give limp hair lots of bounce.
5. After the debates, she enjoyed a big bounce in the election polls.

First Known Use of BOUNCE

1523

Related to BOUNCE

Synonyms

beans, vigor, brio, dash, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit, gas, get-up-and-go, ginger, go, gusto, hardihood, juice, life, moxie, oomph, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vim, vinegar, vitality, zing, zip

Antonyms

lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, torpidity

Related Words

animal spirits, animation, briskness, jauntiness, liveliness, snappiness, spirit, spiritedness, sprightliness, spunk, spunkiness, vibrance, vibrancy, vivaciousness, vivacity; ardor, élan, fervor, fire, passion, zeal; main, metal, mettle, might, muscle, potency, power, puissance, stamina, strength; brawniness, fitness, hardiness, huskiness, sturdiness, virility; health, healthiness, soundness, verdure, wellness

Near Antonyms

indolence, laziness; debilitation, debility, delicacy, disablement, enfeeblement, faintness, feebleness, frailness, frailty, impotence, impotency, infirmity, powerlessness, puniness, slightness, softness, tenderness, weakness; enervation, exhaustion, inanition, prostration

Rhymes with BOUNCE

flounce, jounce, ounce, pounce