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
… fired a shot and watched the puck ricochet off Ellett's left skate …—
Austin Murphy
Austin MurphyThe 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
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
The incident also resulted in a U.S. Marshal being hit by a ricochet bullet, according to prosecutors.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
The puck ricocheted off Mrázek’s skate and then Helleson’s.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ricochet
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Noun
Foden’s ability to ride two tackles and steer a shot through a tangle of legs without a single ricochet saved them from confronting that sobering reality.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
The incident also resulted in a U.S. Marshal being hit by a ricochet bullet, according to prosecutors.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
On Atlanta's next possession, Kirk Cousins' pass for Kyle Pitts was deflected and picked off by Emmanwori, his first career pick, Devon Witherspoon had another pick on a wacky play when the ball ricocheted high in the air on a short throw by Cousins.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
The puck ricocheted off Mrázek’s skate and then Helleson’s.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 27 Nov. 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 17 Dec. 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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