to spring back after hitting a surface, to move up and down repeatedly, to refuse to accept or return something

get the bounce, bounce off the walls, bounce a check

bounce around, bounce back, bounce off

Formal and Informal Expressions of bounce

In different contexts, you can replace 'bounce' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'rebound, ricochet' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'spring, jump' is a commonplace synonym.

bounce: Explore its Definition & Usage

bounce Definition

1to spring back after hitting a surface
2to move up and down repeatedly
3to refuse to accept or return something

Using bounce: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bounce" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The ball bounced off the wall and hit him in the face.
Example
She bounced the baby on her knee.
Example
The check bounced because there were insufficient funds in the account.
Example
He was bounced from the meeting for being disruptive.
Example
The company bounced back from bankruptcy and became profitable again.

bounce Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for bounce

Antonyms for bounce

Idioms Using bounce

get the bounce
to be fired or dismissed from a job
Example
He got the bounce after he was caught stealing from the company.
bounce off the walls
to be very excited or energetic
Example
The kids were bouncing off the walls after eating all that candy.
bounce a check
to write a check for more money than is available in the account
Example
He bounced a check at the grocery store and had to pay a fee.

Phrases with bounce

bounce around
to move from place to place without a clear destination
Example
After college, she bounced around Europe for a few years before settling down.
bounce back
to recover quickly from a setback or difficult situation
Example
After losing his job, he bounced back by starting his own business.
bounce off
to share an idea or thought with someone to get their opinion
Example
I'm thinking of quitting my job, but I wanted to bounce it off you first.

Origins of bounce

from Middle English 'bounsen', meaning 'beat' or 'strike'

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Summary: bounce in Brief

The verb 'bounce' [baʊns] has three main meanings: to spring back after hitting a surface, to move up and down repeatedly, and to refuse to accept or return something. It can refer to physical objects like balls or people, as well as abstract concepts like ideas or emotions. 'Bounce' has several idiomatic uses, such as 'get the bounce' meaning to be fired, and 'bounce off the walls' meaning to be very excited. 'Bounce' also appears in phrases like 'bounce around' and 'bounce back,' which denote movement and recovery, respectively.