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 Greenfeld
Examples 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
Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
But Drake understandably didn’t fire off his lawsuit then, as ricochets from rich college quads (hip-hop’s prime audience) could have killed his image even more than Lamar’s rhymes did.
—Bill Hochberg, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
This arson idea has been ricocheting around online as people have tried to wrap their heads around two massive, out-of-control fires erupting Tuesday about 40 miles apart in the Los Angeles Area.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025
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Noun
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
But Drake understandably didn’t fire off his lawsuit then, as ricochets from rich college quads (hip-hop’s prime audience) could have killed his image even more than Lamar’s rhymes did.
—Bill Hochberg, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
The hotel — like the Beverly Hills Hotel three miles away — was booked to capacity with local residents who fled the Palisades, Brentwood and Laurel Canyon neighborhoods because of the wildfires ricocheting through Southern California, razing mansions and starter homes alike.
—Jacob Bernstein, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
This arson idea has been ricocheting around online as people have tried to wrap their heads around two massive, out-of-control fires erupting Tuesday about 40 miles apart in the Los Angeles Area.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for ricochet
Dictionary Entries Near ricochet
Cite this Entry
“Ricochet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ricochet. Accessed 13 Feb. 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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