ric·o·chet
ˈri-kə-ˌshā 
British also -ˌshet
: a glancing rebound (as of a projectile off a flat surface)
the ricochet of the bullet off the wall
ricocheted
ˈri-kə-ˌshād
also ricochetted
ˈri-kə-ˌshe-təd
; ricocheting
ˈri-kə-ˌshā-iŋ
also ricochetting
ˈri-kə-ˌshe-tiŋ
also ricochetted
ˈri-kə-ˌshe-təd
; ricocheting
ˈri-kə-ˌshā-iŋ
also ricochetting
ˈri-kə-ˌshe-tiŋ
: to bounce or skip with or as if with a glancing rebound
The bullet that hit President Reagan had ricocheted off the presidential limousine.—
David Fisher
David FisherThe ball ricochets at a right angle, falling with force into the first baseman's glove …—Bob Drury
Bob DruryThe chute snaps open, the sound ricocheting through the gorge like a gunshot, and McGuire is soaring, carving S turns into the air, swooping over a winding creek.—Karl Taro Greenfeld
Karl Taro GreenfeldExamples of ricochet in a Sentence
Noun
He was hit by a ricochet.
the ricochet of the bullet off the wall
Verb
The bullet ricocheted off the wall.
the ball ricocheted off the fielder's glove and went over the fence for a home run
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Of course the Commanders won a playoff game with the quarterback the Bears passed over at No. 1 in last spring’s draft leading a game-winning drive that ended with a kick that got a friendly ricochet from a steel upright at Raymond James Stadium.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2025
Egypt is a regional lynchpin containing a potential powder keg of radical sentiment that if detonated would ricochet around the region, puncturing European and US interests.
—Nic Robertson, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ricochet
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Noun
The midfielder fed Isak, who this time was the beneficiary of another Murillo ricochet beyond Sels.
—Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Of course the Commanders won a playoff game with the quarterback the Bears passed over at No. 1 in last spring’s draft leading a game-winning drive that ended with a kick that got a friendly ricochet from a steel upright at Raymond James Stadium.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
Most teams’ year-over-year rankings resemble cardiograms, ricocheting up and down peaks and valleys as the farm is depleted and replenished over and over in the pursuit of championships.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2025
Egypt is a regional lynchpin containing a potential powder keg of radical sentiment that if detonated would ricochet around the region, puncturing European and US interests.
—Nic Robertson, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ricochet
Cite this Entry
“Ricochet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ricochet. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ricochet
1 of 2 noun
ric·o·chet
ˈrik-ə-ˌshā
British also -ˌshet
1
: a bouncing off at an angle (as of a bullet off a flat surface)
2
: an object that ricochets
ricochet
2 of 2 verb
ricocheted
-ˌshād
also ricochetted
-ˌshet-əd
; ricocheting
-ˌshā-iŋ
also ricochetting
-ˌshet-iŋ
: to bounce off at an angle
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