bounce

Everyday

1. To bounce means to hit a surface and spring back up or away, like a ball hitting the floor. tree →
2. To bounce also means to jump up and down again and again, like on a trampoline. tree →
3. A bounce is one spring back up, or the springy quality of something. tree →
4. In computers, an email bounces when it comes back because it could not be delivered. tree →

In the lessons

In play and sports, balls bounce on the ground; in basketball you bounce the ball as you move (dribble). In science, a bouncy ball shows energy changing as it falls and springs back, and it bounces a little lower each time. In stories, children bounce with excitement. Phrases: bounce back (recover after a problem), bounce off, bounce up and down.

Examples

• The ball bounced off the wall and hit the window. tree →
• The kids bounced on the trampoline all afternoon. tree →
• She bounced the basketball three times before shooting. tree →
• A tennis ball bounces higher than a ball of clay. tree →
• Tom was bouncing with excitement before the party. tree →
• Light bounces off a mirror. tree →
• The team bounced back after losing the first game. tree →
• Each bounce was a bit lower than the one before. tree →
• I am weeping for my golden ball which bounced away from me into the water." tree →

Note

Regular verb: bounced, bouncing. «Bouncy» is the adjective. «Bounce back» means to get better after something bad. Trampolines are fun but one person at a time is safest. In maths problems about a bouncing ball, the height of each bounce is often a fraction of the height before (for example, half).