ricochet

Word family

• ricocheted
  verb (past tense)B2
• ricocheting
  verb (present participle)B2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Ricochet, bounce, rebound, deflect, and glance all describe an object changing direction after hitting something. Bounce is the broadest term — it covers any springing-back motion, from a basketball on the court to a jumper on a trampoline, and is by far the most frequent word. Rebound adds the idea of returning toward the starting point; it is the standard word in basketball for a recovered ball and in physics for energy-return collisions. Deflect focuses on the change of course itself, often implying a surface designed or positioned to redirect the object — a shield can deflect arrows, a windscreen deflects air. Ricochet is the most dramatic: it implies a fast-moving projectile (bullet, stone, ball) striking a hard surface at a glancing angle and continuing at high speed in a new, often unpredictable direction. It is narrower than bounce and more violent than deflect. Glance suggests a light, side-angle touch where little energy is transferred — a stone may glance off a window without breaking it. Use ricochet when the impact is sharp, fast, and uncontrolled. For example: 'The basketball bounced twice before going in' (general); 'The bullet ricocheted off the armoured door' (fast, angled, dangerous).

Common collocations

Etymology

The word 'ricochet' entered English in the mid-1700s from French, where 'ricochet' originally described the skipping or rebounding of a cannonball off water or flat ground. The French term may come from Old French 'ricochet', a type of bouncing stone game, though the ultimate origin is uncertain. The word was first used in military contexts and later expanded to sports and everyday situations involving bouncing projectiles.