Rebound vs. Bounce — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 24, 2024
Rebound involves the return or recovery after hitting a surface or a low point, typically used in sports and relationships; bounce refers to an object's ability to spring back immediately upon impact, emphasizing the physical action.
Difference Between Rebound and Bounce
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Key Differences
Rebound typically refers to the action of returning to a previous state or condition after a decline or setback, commonly used in contexts like sports or emotional recovery. Whereas bounce describes the physical motion of an object that hits a surface and immediately returns due to its elasticity.
In sports, particularly basketball, a rebound is when a player retrieves the ball after a missed shot that has hit the backboard or rim. On the other hand, bounce in this context might refer to how the basketball itself reacts when it hits the ground, springing back into the air.
In a metaphorical or emotional sense, rebound can describe someone recovering from a setback such as a failed relationship or a career hiccup, attempting to return to a normal or better state. Conversely, bounce is rarely used in this emotional context but could metaphorically suggest resilience in returning quickly to form after a challenge.
Rebound can also imply a single, sometimes significant, response to a particular event, like a rebound in stock prices after a market crash. Bounce, however, usually describes a series of quick, repetitive motions, like a ball bouncing on the ground.
The usage of rebound and bounce also differs in their application; rebound can be both a noun and a verb (e.g., a rebound in prices, the market rebounded), while bounce is primarily used as a verb, with its noun form describing the act itself (e.g., the ball has a good bounce).
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Return to a former state after a setback or decline
Spring back from an impact due to elasticity
Usage in Sports
Retrieving the ball after a missed shot
The action of a ball when it hits the ground
Metaphorical Use
Recovery from emotional or financial downturns
Resilience and quick recovery
Physical/Motion
Often involves a single, significant motion or recovery
Repeated, rapid motion
Form
Both noun and verb
Primarily a verb, noun form refers to the act of bouncing
Compare with Definitions
Rebound
A return to normal or better state after a decline.
The economy is on the rebound after last year's losses.
Bounce
To spring back after hitting a surface.
The rubber ball bounced off the wall.
Rebound
To bounce back after hitting a surface (less common).
The ball rebounded off the wall.
Bounce
To move up and down repeatedly.
The excited child bounced on the trampoline.
Rebound
The act of catching the ball after a missed shot in basketball.
He led the team in rebounds during last night's game.
Bounce
To be sent back by an email server (slang).
My email to him bounced.
Rebound
Recovery or bounce back from emotional setbacks.
She's on the rebound from a difficult breakup.
Bounce
A sudden movement upwards or to another position.
The cat bounced up to the windowsill.
Rebound
Regaining position or condition previously lost.
The company's stock rebounded quickly.
Bounce
The quality of a surface or object to return to form after pressure.
This mattress has a lot of bounce.
Rebound
Bounce back through the air after hitting something hard
His shot hammered into the post and rebounded across the goal
Bounce
(with reference to an object, especially a ball) move quickly up, back, or away from a surface after hitting it
He was bouncing the ball against the wall
The ball bounced away and he chased it
Rebound
Recover in value, amount, or strength after a decrease or decline
The Share Index rebounded to show a twenty-point gain
Bounce
Jump repeatedly up and down, typically on something springy
Emma was happily bouncing up and down on the mattress
Rebound
(of an event or action) have an unexpected adverse consequence for (someone, especially the person responsible for it)
Nicholas's tricks are rebounding on him
Bounce
(of a cheque) be returned by a bank to the payee when there are not enough funds in the drawer's account to meet it
A further two cheques of £160 also bounced
Rebound
(in sporting contexts) a ball or shot that bounces back after striking a hard surface
He blasted the rebound into the net
Bounce
Eject (a troublemaker) forcibly from a nightclub or similar establishment.
Rebound
An increase in value, amount, or strength after a previous decline
They revealed a big rebound in profits for last year
Bounce
Pressurize (someone) into doing something, typically by presenting them with a fait accompli
The government should beware being bounced into any ill-considered foreign gamble
Rebound
To spring or bounce back after hitting or colliding with something.
Bounce
A rebound of a ball or other object
The wicket was causing the occasional erratic bounce
Rebound
To recover, as from depression or disappointment.
Bounce
An act of jumping or of moving up and down jerkily
Every bounce of the truck brought them into fresh contact
Rebound
To reecho; resound.
Bounce
To rebound after having struck an object or a surface.
Rebound
(Basketball) To retrieve and gain possession of the ball as it bounces off the backboard or rim after an unsuccessful shot.
Bounce
To move jerkily; bump
The car bounced over the potholes.
Rebound
To cause to rebound.
Bounce
To bound
Children bouncing into the room.
Rebound
(Basketball) To gain possession of (the ball) off the backboard or rim.
Bounce
To be left unpaid because of an overdrawn account
A check that bounced.
Rebound
Past tense and past participle of rebind.
Bounce
(Computers) To be sent back by a mail server as undeliverable
That email bounced because I used "com" instead of "net.".
Rebound
To bind again, especially to put a new binding on (a book).
Bounce
(Baseball) To hit a ground ball to an infielder
The batter bounced out to the shortstop.
Rebound
A springing or bounding back; a recoil.
Bounce
To cause to strike an object or a surface and rebound
Bounce a ball on the sidewalk.
Rebound
(Sports) A rebounding or caroming ball or hockey puck, especially coming off of a goalie who has blocked a shot.
Bounce
To present or propose for comment or approval. Often used with off
Bounced a few ideas off my boss.
Rebound
(Basketball) The act or an instance of taking possession of a rebounding ball.
Bounce
To expel by force
Bounced him from the bar.
Rebound
A quick recovery from or reaction to disappointment or depression
He is on the rebound following a tumultuous breakup.
Bounce
To dismiss from employment.
Rebound
A book that has been rebound.
Bounce
To write (a check) on an overdrawn bank account.
Rebound
The recoil of an object bouncing off another.
Bounce
A rebound, as of a ball from the ground.
Rebound
A return to health or well-being; a recovery.
I am on the rebound.
Bounce
A sudden bound or upward movement
The bike went over the rock with a bounce.
Rebound
An effort to recover from a setback.
Bounce
The capacity to rebound; spring
A ball with bounce.
Rebound
(colloquial) The period of getting over a recently ended romantic relationship.
Bounce
A sudden increase
Got a bounce in the polls.
Rebound
(colloquial) A romantic partner with whom one begins a relationship (or the relationship one begins) for the sake of getting over a previous, recently ended romantic relationship.
Bounce
Cheerfulness or liveliness
"He had managed to recover much of his bounce and spirit" (Paul Auster).
Rebound
(sports) The strike of the ball after it has bounced off a defending player or the crossbar or goalpost.
Bounce
(Slang) Expulsion; dismissal
Was given the bounce from the job.
Rebound
(basketball) An instance of catching the ball after it has hit the rim or backboard without a basket being scored, generally credited to a particular player.
Bounce
A style of dance performed to this music characterized by rapid body movements, especially of the gluteal and hamstring muscles in a way that resembles bouncing while keeping the feet on the ground.
Rebound
To bound or spring back from a force.
Bounce
Chiefly British Loud, arrogant speech; bluster.
Rebound
To give back an echo.
Bounce
(intransitive) To change the direction of motion after hitting an obstacle.
The tennis ball bounced off the wall before coming to rest in the ditch.
Rebound
(figuratively) To jump up or get back up again.
Bounce
(intransitive) To move quickly up and then down, or vice versa, once or repeatedly.
He bounces nervously on his chair.
Rebound
(transitive) To send back; to reverberate.
Bounce
(transitive) To cause to move quickly up and down, or back and forth, once or repeatedly.
He bounced the child on his knee.
The children were bouncing a ball against a wall.
Rebound
Simple past tense and past participle of rebind
Bounce
To suggest or introduce (an idea, etc.) to (off or by) somebody, in order to gain feedback.
I'm meeting Bob later to bounce some ideas off him about the new product range.
Rebound
To spring back; to start back; to be sent back or reverberated by elastic force on collision with another body; as, a rebounding echo.
Bodies which are absolutely hard, or so soft as to be void of elasticity, will not rebound from one another.
Bounce
(intransitive) To leap or spring suddenly or unceremoniously; to bound.
She bounced happily into the room.
Rebound
To give back an echo.
Bounce
To move rapidly (between).
Rebound
To bound again or repeatedly, as a horse.
Bounce
To be refused by a bank because it is drawn on insufficient funds.
We can’t accept further checks from you, as your last one bounced.
Rebound
To recover, as from sickness, psychological shock, or disappointment.
Bounce
To fail to cover have sufficient funds for (a draft presented against one's account).
He tends to bounce a check or two toward the end of each month, before his payday.
Rebound
To send back; to reverberate.
Silenus sung; the vales his voice rebound.
Bounce
To leave.
Let’s wrap this up, I gotta bounce.
Rebound
The act of rebounding; resilience.
Flew . . . back, as from a rock, with swift rebound.
Bounce
To eject violently, as from a room; to discharge unceremoniously, as from employment.
Rebound
Recovery, as from sickness, psychological shock, or disappointment.
Bounce
To attack unexpectedly.
The squadron was bounced north of the town.
Rebound
A movement back from an impact
Bounce
To turn power off and back on; to reset.
See if it helps to bounce the router.
Rebound
A reaction to a crisis or setback or frustration;
He is still on the rebound from his wife's death
Bounce
To return undelivered.
What’s your new email address? The old one bounces.
The girl in the bar told me her address was [email protected], but my mail to that address was bounced back by the server.
Rebound
The act of securing possession of the rebounding basketball after a missed shot
Bounce
To land hard and lift off again due to excess momentum.
The student pilot bounced several times during his landing.
Rebound
Spring back; spring away from an impact;
The rubber ball bounced
These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide
Bounce
To land hard at unsurvivable velocity with fatal results.
After the mid-air collision, his rig failed and he bounced.
Rebound
Return to a former condition;
The jilted lover soon rallied and found new friends
The stock market rallied
Bounce
To mix (two or more tracks of a multi-track audio tape recording) and record the result onto a single track, in order to free up tracks for further material to be added.
Bounce tracks two and three to track four, then record the cowbell on track two.
Bounce
To bully; to scold.
Bounce
To boast; to bluster.
Bounce
(archaic) To strike or thump, so as to rebound, or to make a sudden noise; to knock loudly.
Bounce
A change of direction of motion after hitting the ground or an obstacle.
Bounce
A movement up and then down (or vice versa), once or repeatedly.
Bounce
(internet) An email that returns to the sender because of a delivery failure.
Bounce
The sack, dismissal.
Bounce
A bang, boom.
Bounce
(archaic) A drink based on brandyW.
Bounce
(archaic) A heavy, sudden, and often noisy, blow or thump.
Bounce
(archaic) Bluster; brag; untruthful boasting; audacious exaggeration; an impudent lie; a bouncer.
Bounce
Scyliorhinus canicula, a European dogfish.
Bounce
(uncountable) A genre of hip-hop music of New Orleans, characterized by often lewd call-and-response chants.
Bounce
Drugs.
Bounce
Swagger.
Bounce
A good beat in music.
Bounce
A talent for leaping.
Them pro-ballers got bounce!
Bounce
To strike or thump, so as to rebound, or to make a sudden noise; a knock loudly.
Another bounces as hard as he can knock.
Against his bosom bounced his heaving heart.
Bounce
To leap or spring suddenly or unceremoniously; to bound; as, she bounced into the room.
Out bounced the mastiff.
Bounced off his arm+chair.
Bounce
To boast; to talk big; to bluster.
Bounce
To drive against anything suddenly and violently; to bump; to thump.
Bounce
To cause to bound or rebound; sometimes, to toss.
Bounce
To eject violently, as from a room; to discharge unceremoniously, as from employment.
Bounce
To bully; to scold.
Bounce
A sudden leap or bound; a rebound.
Bounce
A heavy, sudden, and often noisy, blow or thump.
The bounce burst open the door.
Bounce
An explosion, or the noise of one.
Bounce
Bluster; brag; untruthful boasting; audacious exaggeration; an impudent lie; a bouncer.
Bounce
A dogfish of Europe (Scyllium catulus).
Bounce
With a sudden leap; suddenly.
This impudent puppy comes bounce in upon me.
Bounce
The quality of a substance that is able to rebound
Bounce
A light springing movement upwards or forwards
Bounce
Rebounding from an impact (or series of impacts)
Bounce
Spring back; spring away from an impact;
The rubber ball bounced
These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide
Bounce
Hit something so that it bounces;
Bounce a ball
Bounce
Move up and down repeatedly
Bounce
Come back after being refused;
The check bounced
Bounce
Leap suddenly;
He bounced to his feet
Bounce
Refuse to accept and send back;
Bounce a check
Bounce
Eject from the premises;
The ex-boxer's job is to bounce people who want to enter this private club
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to rebound in a relationship?
To rebound in a relationship means to enter a new relationship shortly after the end of a significant one, often as a means of coping with the breakup.
What is a physical rebound in sports?
In sports, a physical rebound happens when the ball or another object comes back into play after hitting a solid surface like the ground or a backboard.
Is "bounce back" a synonym for rebound?
Yes, "bounce back" is often used synonymously with rebound, especially when referring to recovery or improvement after a setback.
How do the concepts of elasticity relate to bouncing?
Elasticity is a material's ability to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed, which directly affects how well an object can bounce.
What role does a rebound play in basketball strategy?
In basketball, securing rebounds is crucial as it provides the team another opportunity to score by retaining possession of the ball after a missed shot.
What factors affect how high an object bounces?
Factors include the object's material, the surface it hits, the height from which it was dropped, and environmental conditions like air resistance.
How is the bounce rate calculated in websites?
The bounce rate on websites is calculated by the percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing only one page, indicating how well the site engages users.
Can companies experience a rebound?
Yes, companies can experience a rebound, such as a recovery in stock prices, sales, or overall economic performance after a period of decline.
What is meant by "bounce ideas off someone"?
To "bounce ideas off someone" means to share thoughts with another person to get feedback, refine concepts, or develop new perspectives.
Are there exercises that can improve an object's bounce?
While exercises can't directly enhance an object's bounce, selecting and using materials wisely and maintaining them in good condition can help maximize bounce characteristics.
Why might someone be warned against a rebound relationship?
Rebound relationships might be cautioned against because they can be based more on emotional needs than genuine affection, potentially leading to unresolved issues.
What types of surfaces have the best bounce?
Hard, elastic surfaces like rubber or certain polymers usually offer the best bounce because they efficiently convert kinetic energy back into motion.
How can athletes improve their ability to rebound?
Athletes can improve their rebounding ability through practices like timing jumps, enhancing physical strength, and developing better positional awareness.
Can emotional rebounds be unhealthy?
Emotional rebounds can be unhealthy if they prevent individuals from fully processing their emotions and moving on from past experiences.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
