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Synonyms

bounce back

British  

verb

  1. (intr, adverb) to recover one's health, good spirits, confidence, etc, easily after a setback

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a recovery following a setback

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bounce back Idioms  

  1. Recover quickly, as in She had pneumonia, but she bounced back in less than a week. This expression is a metaphor for the rebound of a ball or some elastic material.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Analysts predict Islamic State would bounce back if Rwandan forces left.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

"After this crisis, she knew how to bounce back," Svane said.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

"She started playing well, and I was rushing and frustrated, but I'm happy that I managed to bounce back and turn it around in the second set."

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks are attempting to bounce back after following up a 2023 World Series appearance with two underwhelming seasons.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

“I saw it go squish, bounce back, squish, bounce back—it actually changed shape,” he said.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.