bounding 1 of 3

adjective

as in encircling

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Dissimilar Words

bounding

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of bound
1
as in defining
to mark the limits of the country is bounded by water on two sides

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2
as in bordering
to serve as a border for being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality

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bounding

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of bound
1
as in hopping
to move with a light springing step the child giggled and bounded off to play with her friends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leaping
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air a rabbit bounded down the garden path

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bounding
Verb
Unlike more overtly depressive takes on this role, Bos’ Hamlet is impetuous and sardonic, often bounding up three stairs in a single step and unspooling his words, words, words as if his mouth can’t keep up with his restless mind. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 At 5-foot-9, Fery possesses a skill set perfectly suited for low-bounding grass. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 But Adams is bounding around the rooftop beaming, teeth porcelain-white, face slathered in makeup, hair firmly coiffed. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026 With the Rockies holding a 7-0 lead, Rumfield sent a drive to deep right-center, where the ball grazed the outside of Adell's glove before hitting his head and bounding over the wall. — CBS News, 2 June 2026 There is no shortage of footage of Shelton from his early career, bounding after balls with the fury of a linebacker chasing down a quarterback and then sliding through them — too far through them. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 May 2026 An antelope on a ridge teasingly stares before bounding off up the rocky hill. — Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 17 Apr. 2026 As soon as the door opens, Sadie jumps up to greet Koch before darting off to grab a toy, bounding back toward Koch with her tail still wagging. — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 The latter maintains an exuberant push-and-pull between Rushen’s electric piano, bounding with lightness and dexterity, and her classmate Bobby Bryant’s blaring tenor saxophone. — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bounding
  1. embracing
  2. defining
  3. bordering
  4. hopping
  5. leaping
  6. surrounding
  7. bouncing
  8. jumping
Adjective
  • The saints’ days are celebrated, the great days of history are celebrated, and they’re celebrated with this sort of enormous exuberance and deep investment that is somehow very, very touching, very embracing, and very inclusive.
    — Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025
Definition of embracing
Verb
  • The ultimate Cape Cod movie, Jaws was first released that year and became a defining cultural moment of summer 1975, while Violent City was a favorite of Bourdain’s, its Ennio Morricone title track in high rotation on his cooking playlists.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
  • The 2026 season’s defining commercial event was the sale of two franchises.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 July 2026
Definition of defining
Verb
  • But in Russian regions bordering Ukraine, which started to face Kyiv’s retaliatory strikes earlier than the rest of the country, support for the war is even higher.
    — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
  • In Melilla, Spain's other enclave bordering Morocco, authorities reported that between 300 and 400 people crossed or attempted to cross the border by land or sea on Thursday.
    — Aicha El Hammar Castano, ABC News, 31 July 2026
Definition of bordering
Verb
  • The party has since passed stiffer rules that are intended to prevent states such as New Hampshire and Iowa from hopping the line in the future.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 July 2026
  • Vogue’s Guide to Styling Canvas Shoes Designers are hopping on the trend too.
    — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 23 July 2026
Definition of hopping
Verb
  • Pogačar answered those questions on Alpe d’Huez, leaping from the peloton at the foot of the climb in a bid to catch the breakaway, three and a half minutes up the road.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 July 2026
  • Jorge Soler was hit by a pitch and Grissom sent a line drive off the right-field wall that eluded a leaping Jordan Walker.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of leaping
Adjective
  • The system, which serves 100,000 residents in Iowa City and its surrounding, mostly rural communities, typifies the challenges most libraries face.
    — Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • Since then, the bustling market serves the surrounding and significant Latino community and others.
    — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Definition of surrounding
Verb
  • The resulting, room-sized artwork engulfed visitors in a swirling fantasia featuring bouncing balls, morphing nets and slow-motion action shots of Messi.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 29 July 2026
  • When Odevilas said yes, bouncing up and down for joy, Salem puts the ring onto her finger.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of bouncing
Verb
  • Louisville's role as bourbon's home base keeps growing When visiting bourbon country, Louisville is typically a go-to jumping off point.
    — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Zuckerberg acknowledged that jumping into the enterprise, where Meta has historically struggled, will require some hard work, and that the company has to learn how to do it.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 July 2026
Definition of jumping

Browse Nearby Words

bounders
bounding
boundless
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Cite this Entry

“Bounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bounding. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bounding

Nglish: Translation of bounding for Spanish Speakers

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