to bounce

/ˈbaʊns/

Definition & Meaning of "bounce"in English

to bounce

VERB

to jump up and down over and over again, especially on a stretchy surface

Intransitive

Grammatical Information

Composition

Simple

Movement verb

Regular

Present tense

bounce

3rd person singular

bounces

Present participle

bouncing

Past simple

bounced

Past participle

bounced

Examples

The kids could n't contain their excitement as they began to bounce on the trampoline in the backyard.

(of an email) to fail to reach the destination and be sent back to the sender

Intransitive

Examples

The automated response indicated that the email had bounced due to an invalid recipient address.

to move away from a surface after making contact

Intransitive

Examples

The rubber ball bounced off the wall and rolled across the floor.

to strike an object in a way that it rebounds or moves back after impact

Transitive: to bounce a ball

Examples

The child could n't resist the urge to bounce the ball against the wall repeatedly.

to rapidly move up and down in a repeated or rhythmic manner

Intransitive

Examples

As the car drove over the uneven terrain, the passengers felt it bounce along the bumpy road.

(of a check) to be returned by a bank due to insufficient funds or other issues

Intransitive

Examples

His check for the rent bounced because he forgot to deposit money into his account.

to forcefully remove or expel someone from a place or property

Transitive: to bounce sb

Examples

The event organizers had a strict policy and were prepared to bounce attendees engaging in aggressive behavior.

to return a check to the payee due to issues such as insufficient funds

Transitive: to bounce a check

Examples

The bank had to bounce the check because the account had been closed by the account holder.

to take turns performing an action or speaking, especially in a conversational or collaborative setting

Examples

They bounced between roles to keep the project moving smoothly.

to leave or exit quickly, often suddenly

Slang

What does "to bounce" mean in slang?

The structure is a simple verb borrowed from the physical action of bouncing off a surface, repurposed to describe a quick departure. It is used to describe leaving or exiting a place or situation quickly, often suddenly or without much notice, similar to "dip" or "bail." People typically say "I'm about to bounce" when leaving a party, a hangout, or an event, sometimes to avoid drawn out goodbyes.

Examples

I 'm gon na bounce, it's getting late.

Bounce

NOUN

the lively thickness, shine, and elasticity of healthy hair that allows it to move and return to shape easily

Grammatical Information

Animacy status

Abstract

Composition

Compound

Countable

Plural form

bounces

Examples

Her hair had a natural bounce after the treatment.

the property of a material that allows it to rebound or spring back after being compressed or struck

Examples

The foam mattress has just the right amount of bounce.

a light, self-propelled upward or forward movement, often with energy or enthusiasm

Examples

The child ran with a bounce in her step.

the act or motion of rebounding after striking a surface

Examples

The bounce of the ball off the wall surprised him.

an undelivered email that is returned to the sender due to delivery failure, often caused by a technical or address-related issue

What is a "bounce"?

A bounce refers to a message that is returned to the sender because it could not be delivered to the intended recipient. This can happen for several reasons, such as an incorrect email address, a full inbox, or issues with the recipient's email server. When an email bounces, the sender typically receives a notification that explains why the email could not be delivered.

Examples

The bounce indicated that the recipient's email address no longer existed.

Lexical Tree