Bounce Word Meaning

Middle English bunsen ‘beat, thump’, perhaps imitative, or from Low German bunsen ‘beat’, Dutch bons ‘a thump’

(with reference to an object, especially a ball) move quickly up, back, or away from a surface after hitting it

rebound after hitting something

• the ball bounced away and he chased it
• he was bouncing the ball against the wall

jump repeatedly up and down, typically on something springy

jump up and down

• Emma was happily bouncing up and down on the mattress

(of a cheque) be returned by a bank to the payee when there are not enough funds in the drawer's account to meet it

(of cheque) be returned by bank

• a further two cheques of £160 also bounced

eject (a troublemaker) forcibly from a nightclub or similar establishment.

eject troublemaker

pressurize (someone) into doing something, typically by presenting them with a fait accompli

pressurize into doing something

• the government should beware being bounced into any ill-considered foreign gamble

a rebound of a ball or other object

rebound of ball

• the wicket was causing the occasional erratic bounce

an act of jumping or of moving up and down jerkily

jump or jerky movement

• every bounce of the truck brought them into fresh contact