Meaning & use

bounce

verb·Everyday

To spring back or rebound after hitting a hard surface, or to move up and down repeatedly.

See it in a sentence

The ball bounced off the wall and rolled back toward the goal.

Excited children bounced on the trampoline for nearly an hour straight.

A note on using this word

Informally, a check that 'bounces' is one returned unpaid because the account lacked sufficient funds.

Words with a similar meaning

reboundspring

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

Informal: (of a check) to be returned unpaid because of insufficient funds.

His rent check bounced, and the bank charged him an extra fee.

Make it your own

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