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
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
The auctioneer’s chant ricochets across the yard, where everything from board games and mugs to the family’s home itself is being sold.
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
Evan Clark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Buium would pull the Wild within two midway through the third period on a power play, but less than a minute later, the Wild lost a faceoff and Boone Jenner’s shot ricocheted off Adam Fantilli for a 6-3 lead.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ricochet
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Noun
The attempt was tipped by a Loomis Chaffee corner, only to be caught off the ricochet by Mustang senior Kash Kelly.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
The auctioneer’s chant ricochets across the yard, where everything from board games and mugs to the family’s home itself is being sold.
—Selina Wang, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
At the center of it all is the consumer who will be out there on the other side of the phone as the show ricochets around the internet.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
Buium would pull the Wild within two midway through the third period on a power play, but less than a minute later, the Wild lost a faceoff and Boone Jenner’s shot ricocheted off Adam Fantilli for a 6-3 lead.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 12 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 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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