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
Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
Beyond the goal — a lucky ricochet off the knee of Levi Colwill — most people who were there probably couldn’t tell you a thing about what happened on the pitch.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 2024
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2024
The echoes of the audience shouting the lyrics ricocheted off the packed arena's walls.
—Bryan West, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ricochet 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
With the election still all too fresh in Americans’ memories, the writers wisely avoided taking on the cultural ricochet of the host’s presidential endorsement.
—Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2024
Beyond the goal — a lucky ricochet off the knee of Levi Colwill — most people who were there probably couldn’t tell you a thing about what happened on the pitch.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 22 Aug. 2024
Verb
If and when Yellowstone does blow, its impacts will ricochet around the globe.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2024
The echoes of the audience shouting the lyrics ricocheted off the packed arena's walls.
—Bryan West, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
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 28 Nov. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share