ric·o·chet
ˈri-kə-ˌshā 
British also -ˌshet
: a glancing rebound (as of a projectile off a flat surface)
the ricochet of the bullet off the wall
ricocheted
ˈri-kə-ˌshād
also ricochetted
ˈri-kə-ˌshe-təd
; ricocheting
ˈri-kə-ˌshā-iŋ
also ricochetting
ˈri-kə-ˌshe-tiŋ
also ricochetted
ˈri-kə-ˌshe-təd
; ricocheting
ˈri-kə-ˌshā-iŋ
also ricochetting
ˈri-kə-ˌshe-tiŋ
: to bounce or skip with or as if with a glancing rebound
The bullet that hit President Reagan had ricocheted off the presidential limousine.—
David Fisher
David FisherThe ball ricochets at a right angle, falling with force into the first baseman's glove …—Bob Drury
Bob DruryThe chute snaps open, the sound ricocheting through the gorge like a gunshot, and McGuire is soaring, carving S turns into the air, swooping over a winding creek.—Karl Taro Greenfeld
Karl Taro GreenfeldExamples of ricochet in a Sentence
Noun
He was hit by a ricochet.
the ricochet of the bullet off the wall
Verb
The bullet ricocheted off the wall.
the ball ricocheted off the fielder's glove and went over the fence for a home run
Recent Examples on the Web
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
McDavid gathered the long ricochet well past center ice, stayed ahead of speedy Roope Hintz and beat goalie Casey DeSmith with 5:32 left in the second period.
—Stephen Hawkins, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 24 June 2025
Lee struck out to end the game on a ball that ricocheted away from catcher William Contreras.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ricochet
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Noun
The blocked ricochet that came right back to Mavididi was kind, as was the palming of the ball into the net by ‘keeper Bart Verbruggen from the 26-year-old’s eventual shot.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
McDavid gathered the long ricochet well past center ice, stayed ahead of speedy Roope Hintz and beat goalie Casey DeSmith with 5:32 left in the second period.
—Stephen Hawkins, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2025
Verb
Two shoppers were wounded in the checkout line when a bullet fired by accident hit one person, then ricocheted into another, according to investigators in Georgia.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 24 June 2025
Lee struck out to end the game on a ball that ricocheted away from catcher William Contreras.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 21 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ricochet
Cite this Entry
“Ricochet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ricochet. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ricochet
1 of 2 noun
ric·o·chet
ˈrik-ə-ˌshā
British also -ˌshet
1
: a bouncing off at an angle (as of a bullet off a flat surface)
2
: an object that ricochets
ricochet
2 of 2 verb
ricocheted
-ˌshād
also ricochetted
-ˌshet-əd
; ricocheting
-ˌshā-iŋ
also ricochetting
-ˌshet-iŋ
: to bounce off at an angle
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