rebound

rebound — verb

1. of an object that has hit a hard surface, to spring back or move in the opposite

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

of an object that has hit a hard surface, to spring back or move in the opposite direction after the impact

Example

The tennis ball hit the brick wall and rebounded straight back to Kian.

intransitive: ball + rebound + off/from surface

The sound of Kwame's stone rebounded off the canyon cliffs on both sides.

rebound + off [surface] — sound/sonic use

Common collocations
  • rebound off
  • rebound from
  • rebound back
Synonyms
  • bounce

    more general term for any up-and-down or off-surface movement; rebound often implies motion in a new direction after impact

  • ricochet

    specifically describes a quick, angled deflection, usually of a bullet or fast-moving object

  • spring back

    emphasises the elastic quality of the returning motion

Antonyms
  • stick

    to stay fixed on a surface rather than springing off it

  • absorb

    to take in the force of impact without rebounding

Grammar Patterns

rebound + off/from [surface]

Usage Note

Only sense of rebound that describes a physical, literal bouncing movement. All other senses are figurative extensions of this core idea.

Common Mistakes

The player rebounded the ball to his teammate.
The ball rebounded off the backboard to his teammate.
rebound is intransitive; a player does not 'rebound' an object in this sense.

2. when a plan or action meant to harm or affect someone else turns around and caus

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

when a plan or action meant to harm or affect someone else turns around and causes trouble for the person who started it

Example

Tamar's rumours about a colleague rebounded on her when the boss discovered the lies.

rebound on + [person] — backfire pattern

Asher's attempt to embarrass a rival rebounded against him and hurt his own reputation.

rebound against + [person] — alternative preposition

Common collocations
  • rebound on
  • rebound upon
  • rebound against
Synonyms
  • backfire

    more common everyday word for an action producing the opposite of the intended effect

  • boomerang

    informal; suggests the action returns to harm the original actor, like a thrown boomerang

Antonyms
  • succeed

    when a plan works as intended

  • pay off

    when a risky action produces a good result

Grammar Patterns

[action/plan] + rebound on/upon + [person]

Usage Note

Frequently used with 'on' or 'upon' followed by the person affected. The subject is always an action, plan, or strategy — never a person. A person cannot 'rebound on' someone else.

Common Mistakes

He rebounded on his friend with a nasty trick.
His nasty trick rebounded on him.
the action, not the person, is the subject of this verb.

3. to go back to a previous good state after a period of difficulty, poor performan

3.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to go back to a previous good state after a period of difficulty, poor performance, or loss

Example

After three terrible months, the company's profits rebounded strongly in the spring.

rebound + adverb (strongly/quickly) — recovery sense

Joon's health rebounded quickly once the doctors found the right treatment for his condition.

Common collocations
  • rebound from
  • rebound strongly
  • rebound quickly
  • rebound sharply
Synonyms
  • recover

    broader and more general; recover can be gradual, whereas rebound suggests a faster or sharper improvement

  • bounce back

    informal equivalent; both suggest a quick return to a previous good state

  • rally

    often used for prices, currencies, or team performance after a poor period

Antonyms
  • decline

    to move downward or worsen

  • plummet

    to fall very quickly and steeply

Grammar Patterns

rebound + from [setback/difficulty]

Usage Note

Commonly used in financial and economic contexts (prices, markets, currencies) as well as for personal situations (health, mood, career). Unlike recover, rebound emphasises a quick or sharp return.

Common Mistakes

She rebounded her business after the loss.
Her business rebounded after the loss.
this sense is always intransitive; do not use a direct object.

4. to do physical exercise by jumping up and down on a small trampoline, known as a

4.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to do physical exercise by jumping up and down on a small trampoline, known as a rebounder, for health or fitness purposes

Example

Mathieu rebounds for twenty minutes every morning before he leaves for work.

rebound + duration — exercise routine

Baraka's physiotherapist recommended that she rebound gently to improve her circulation and balance.

Common collocations
  • rebound on a rebounder
  • rebound gently
  • rebound for exercise
Synonyms
  • jump

    general term; does not specify the equipment used

  • bounce

    also a general term for up-and-down movement on a springy surface

Grammar Patterns

rebound + on [rebounder]

Usage Note

A niche sense used mainly in fitness contexts. The equipment (a rebounder) is a small trampoline. This meaning is much less common than the other verb senses.

Phrasal verbs

rebound on/upon somebody

phrasal verb

when a negative action or scheme turns around and causes harm to the person who started it, instead of harming the intended target

His attempt to humiliate a coworker rebounded on him when everyone saw how unfair he had been.

The cruel prank the older boys played rebounded upon them when the teacher assigned them extra work.

rebound — noun

Word family

  • rebounder
    nounB2
  • rebounding
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe movement away from a surface after impact, but they differ in how the movement happens and what kind of object is involved. 'Bounce' is the most general and common word — a ball bounces, but so does a cheque or a child on a bed; it suggests an up-and-down or repeated motion. 'Rebound' is more specific and directional: the object springs back in the opposite direction after hitting a surface, often at an angle. 'Ricochet' describes a fast, glancing deflection, usually of a small, hard object like a bullet or a stone skipping off water. 'Spring back' emphasises the elastic, immediate return of something that was pressed or pushed. A tennis ball hitting a wall rebounds; a bullet hitting a metal plate ricochets; a rubber band springs back when released. For learners, 'bounce' is the safest choice for everyday speech, while 'rebound' is more technical or precise.

bounce ↗rebound ↗ricochet ↗spring back

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • on the rebound

Prepositions

Etymology

Vulgar LatinOld FrenchAnglo-NormanEnglish

Rebound entered English around the 14th century from Old French 'rebondir', made up of 're-' (again) and 'bondir' (to bounce, leap). 'Bondir' traces back to Vulgar Latin 'bombitīre', meaning 'to buzz or hum', which later shifted to a leaping sense. The word originally described the physical bouncing of objects, and over time its meaning expanded into figurative uses such as recovering from hardship (verb sense 3) or the backfiring of a plan (verb sense 2). The basketball-specific meaning emerged in American English in the early 20th century as the sport grew in popularity.