Difference Wiki

Bounce vs. Bound: What's the Difference?

Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 10, 2023
Bounce refers to a rebound after hitting a surface, while Bound can mean to leap or a defined limit.

Key Differences

Bounce typically relates to the motion of an object, like a ball, that comes in contact with a surface and rebounds. Bound, on the other hand, can represent a leap or jump, often in a spirited or energetic manner.
Bounce often indicates a repeated action where something, due to its elasticity or force, returns from a surface it has just contacted. In contrast, Bound might not necessarily imply repetition but can indicate a single leap or springing action.
Bounce has connotations with resiliency and elasticity. A rubber ball, for instance, will bounce off a wall. Bound might be more associated with agility and energy, as in a deer bounding through a field.
In the context of checks, a check that cannot be processed due to insufficient funds is said to "bounce". Bound, conversely, can also mean a restriction or limitation, like being "bound by a contract".
Lastly, when you "bounce an idea" off someone, you're seeking feedback. But when you're "bound to a promise", you're committed to keeping it.
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Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Verb (mostly)
Verb and Noun

Primary Meaning

Rebound after hitting a surface
Leap or a defined limit

Example Usage

"Bounce a ball"
"Bound across the field"

Connotations

Resiliency, elasticity
Agility, energy, or limitation

Related Phrases

"Bounce back"
"Bound by oath"
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Bounce and Bound Definitions

Bounce

To present for feedback or reaction.
I'd like to bounce this idea off you.

Bound

To leap or jump.
The rabbit bound across the meadow.

Bounce

To rebound after having struck an object or a surface.

Bound

A limiting line or border.
The garden's bounds were marked with stones.

Bounce

To move jerkily; bump
The car bounced over the potholes.

Bound

Restricted by an obligation.
She was bound by her promise.

Bounce

To bound
Children bouncing into the room.

Bound

To leap forward or upward; jump; spring
The dog bounded over the gate.

Bounce

To be left unpaid because of an overdrawn account
A check that bounced.

Bound

To move forward by leaps or springs
The deer bounded into the woods.

Bounce

(Computers) To be sent back by a mail server as undeliverable
That email bounced because I used "com" instead of "net.".

Bound

To spring back from a surface; rebound
The basketball bounded off the backboard.

Bounce

(Baseball) To hit a ground ball to an infielder
The batter bounced out to the shortstop.

Bound

To set a limit to; confine
A high wall that bounded the prison yard.
Lives that were bounded by poverty.

Bounce

To cause to strike an object or a surface and rebound
Bounce a ball on the sidewalk.

Bound

To constitute the boundary or limit of
A city park that was bounded by busy streets.

Bounce

To present or propose for comment or approval. Often used with off
Bounced a few ideas off my boss.

Bound

To identify the boundaries of; demarcate.

Bounce

To expel by force
Bounced him from the bar.

Bound

To border on another place, state, or country.

Bounce

To dismiss from employment.

Bound

Past tense and past participle of bind.

Bounce

To write (a check) on an overdrawn bank account.

Bound

A leap; a jump
The deer was away in a single bound.

Bounce

A rebound, as of a ball from the ground.

Bound

A springing back from a surface after hitting it; a bounce
Caught the ball on the bound.

Bounce

A sudden bound or upward movement
The bike went over the rock with a bounce.

Bound

Often bounds A boundary; a limit
Our joy knew no bounds. Your remarks exceed the bounds of reason.

Bounce

The capacity to rebound; spring
A ball with bounce.

Bound

Bounds The territory on, within, or near limiting lines
The bounds of the kingdom.

Bounce

A sudden increase
Got a bounce in the polls.

Bound

Confined by bonds; tied
Bound hostages.

Bounce

Cheerfulness or liveliness
"He had managed to recover much of his bounce and spirit" (Paul Auster).

Bound

Being under legal or moral obligation
Bound by my promise.

Bounce

(Slang) Expulsion; dismissal
Was given the bounce from the job.

Bound

Equipped with a cover or binding
Bound volumes.

Bounce

A fast, energetic style of hip-hop originating in New Orleans and characterized by repetitive, often sexual call-and-response lyrics.

Bound

Predetermined; certain
We're bound to be late.

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.

Bound

Determined; resolved
Many public policy students are bound to be politicians one day.

Bounce

Chiefly British Loud, arrogant speech; bluster.

Bound

(Linguistics) Being a form, especially a morpheme, that cannot stand as an independent word, such as a prefix or suffix.

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.

Bound

Constipated.

Bounce

(intransitive) To move quickly up and then down, or vice versa, once or repeatedly.
He bounces nervously on his chair.

Bound

Headed or intending to head in a specified direction
Commuters bound for home.
A south-bound train.

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.

Bound

Simple past tense and past participle of bind
I bound the splint to my leg.
I had bound the splint with duct tape.

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.

Bound

To surround a territory or other geographical entity; to form the boundary of.
France, Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra bound Spain.
Kansas is bounded by Nebraska on the north, Missouri on the east, Oklahoma on the south and Colorado on the west.

Bounce

(intransitive) To leap or spring suddenly or unceremoniously; to bound.
She bounced happily into the room.

Bound

To be the bound of.

Bounce

To move rapidly (between).

Bound

(intransitive) To leap, move by jumping.
The rabbit bounded down the lane.

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.

Bound

(transitive) To cause to leap.
To bound a horse

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.

Bound

To rebound; to bounce.
A rubber ball bounds on the floor

Bounce

To leave.
Let’s wrap this up, I gotta bounce.

Bound

To cause to rebound; to throw so that it will rebound; to bounce.
To bound a ball on the floor

Bounce

To eject violently, as from a room; to discharge unceremoniously, as from employment.

Bound

(with infinitive) Obliged (to).
You are not legally bound to reply.

Bounce

(sometimes employing the preposition with) To have sexual intercourse.

Bound

That cannot stand alone as a free word.

Bounce

To attack unexpectedly.
The squadron was bounced north of the town.

Bound

Constrained by a quantifier.

Bounce

To turn power off and back on; to reset.
See if it helps to bounce the router.

Bound

(dated) Constipated; costive.

Bounce

To return undelivered.
What’s your new email address? The old one bounces.
The girl in the bar told me her address was thirsty@example.com, but my mail to that address was bounced back by the server.

Bound

Confined or restricted to a certain place; e.g. railbound.

Bounce

To land hard and lift off again due to excess momentum.
The student pilot bounced several times during his landing.

Bound

Unable to move in certain conditions; e.g. snowbound.

Bounce

To land hard at unsurvivable velocity with fatal results.
After the mid-air collision, his rig failed and he bounced.

Bound

(obsolete) Ready, prepared.

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.

Bound

Ready to start or go (to); moving in the direction (of).
Which way are you bound?
Is that message bound for me?

Bounce

To bully; to scold.

Bound

(with infinitive) Very likely (to), certain to
They were bound to come into conflict eventually.

Bounce

To boast; to bluster.

Bound

A boundary, the border which one must cross in order to enter or leave a territory.
I reached the northern bound of my property, took a deep breath and walked on.
Somewhere within these bounds you may find a buried treasure.

Bounce

(archaic) To strike or thump, so as to rebound, or to make a sudden noise; to knock loudly.

Bound

(mathematics) A value which is known to be greater or smaller than a given set of values.

Bounce

A change of direction of motion after hitting the ground or an obstacle.

Bound

A sizeable jump, great leap.
The deer crossed the stream in a single bound.

Bounce

A movement up and then down (or vice versa), once or repeatedly.

Bound

A spring from one foot to the other in dancing.

Bounce

(internet) An email that returns to the sender because of a delivery failure.

Bound

(dated) A bounce; a rebound.

Bounce

The sack, dismissal.

Bound

The external or limiting line, either real or imaginary, of any object or space; that which limits or restrains, or within which something is limited or restrained; limit; confine; extent; boundary.
He hath compassed the waters with bounds.
On earth's remotest bounds.
And mete the bounds of hate and love.

Bounce

A bang, boom.

Bound

A leap; an elastic spring; a jump.
A bound of graceful hardihood.

Bounce

(archaic) A drink based on brandyW.

Bound

Rebound; as, the bound of a ball.

Bounce

(archaic) A heavy, sudden, and often noisy, blow or thump.

Bound

Spring from one foot to the other.

Bounce

(archaic) Bluster; brag; untruthful boasting; audacious exaggeration; an impudent lie; a bouncer.

Bound

To limit; to terminate; to fix the furthest point of extension of; - said of natural or of moral objects; to lie along, or form, a boundary of; to inclose; to circumscribe; to restrain; to confine.
Where full measure only bounds excess.
Phlegethon . . .Whose fiery flood the burning empire bounds.

Bounce

Scyliorhinus canicula, a European dogfish.

Bound

To name the boundaries of; as, to bound France.

Bounce

(uncountable) A genre of hip-hop music of New Orleans, characterized by often lewd call-and-response chants.

Bound

To move with a sudden spring or leap, or with a succession of springs or leaps; as the beast bounded from his den; the herd bounded across the plain.
Before his lord the ready spaniel bounds.
And the waves bound beneath me as a steedThat knows his rider.

Bounce

Drugs.

Bound

To rebound, as an elastic ball.

Bounce

Swagger.

Bound

To make to bound or leap; as, to bound a horse.

Bounce

A good beat in music.

Bound

To cause to rebound; to throw so that it will rebound; as, to bound a ball on the floor.

Bounce

A talent for leaping.
Them pro-ballers got bounce!

Bound

Restrained by a hand, rope, chain, fetters, or the like.

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.

Bound

Inclosed in a binding or cover; as, a bound volume.

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.

Bound

Under legal or moral restraint or obligation.

Bounce

To boast; to talk big; to bluster.

Bound

Constrained or compelled; destined; certain; - followed by the infinitive; as, he is bound to succeed; he is bound to fail.

Bounce

To drive against anything suddenly and violently; to bump; to thump.

Bound

Resolved; as, I am bound to do it.

Bounce

To cause to bound or rebound; sometimes, to toss.

Bound

Constipated; costive.

Bounce

To eject violently, as from a room; to discharge unceremoniously, as from employment.

Bound

Ready or intending to go; on the way toward; going; - with to or for, or with an adverb of motion; as, a ship is bound to Cadiz, or for Cadiz.

Bounce

To bully; to scold.

Bound

A line determining the limits of an area

Bounce

A sudden leap or bound; a rebound.

Bound

The line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something

Bounce

A heavy, sudden, and often noisy, blow or thump.
The bounce burst open the door.

Bound

A light springing movement upwards or forwards

Bounce

An explosion, or the noise of one.

Bound

Move forward by leaps and bounds;
The horse bounded across the meadow
The child leapt across the puddle
Can you jump over the fence?

Bounce

Bluster; brag; untruthful boasting; audacious exaggeration; an impudent lie; a bouncer.

Bound

Form the boundary of; be contiguous to

Bounce

A dogfish of Europe (Scyllium catulus).

Bound

Place limits on (extent or access);
Restrict the use of this parking lot
Limit the time you can spend with your friends

Bounce

With a sudden leap; suddenly.
This impudent puppy comes bounce in upon me.

Bound

Spring back; spring away from an impact;
The rubber ball bounced
These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide

Bounce

The quality of a substance that is able to rebound

Bound

Held with another element, substance or material in chemical or physical union

Bounce

A light springing movement upwards or forwards

Bound

Confined by bonds;
Bound and gagged hostages

Bounce

Rebounding from an impact (or series of impacts)

Bound

Secured with a cover or binding; often used as a combining form;
Bound volumes
Leather-bound volumes

Bounce

Spring back; spring away from an impact;
The rubber ball bounced
These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide

Bound

(usually followed by `to') governed by fate;
Bound to happen
An old house destined to be demolished
He is destined to be famous

Bounce

Hit something so that it bounces;
Bounce a ball

Bound

Covered or wrapped with a bandage;
The bandaged wound on the back of his head
An injury bound in fresh gauze

Bounce

Move up and down repeatedly

Bound

Headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in `college-bound students';
Children bound for school
A flight destined for New York

Bounce

Come back after being refused;
The check bounced

Bound

Bound by an oath;
A bound official

Bounce

Leap suddenly;
He bounced to his feet

Bound

Bound by contract

Bounce

Refuse to accept and send back;
Bounce a check

Bound

Confined in the bowels;
He is bound in the belly

Bounce

Eject from the premises;
The ex-boxer's job is to bounce people who want to enter this private club

Bound

Certain or destined to happen.
We are bound to meet someday.

Bounce

To rebound after hitting a surface.
The ball will bounce if you drop it.

Bound

Heading toward a direction.
The plane is bound for New York.

Bounce

To move up and down repeatedly.
The child was bouncing on the bed.

Bounce

To return an email due to a delivery failure.
My email bounced because the address was wrong.

Bounce

To dismiss or expel someone.
He was bounced from the club for misbehavior.

FAQs

Can "bounce" refer to a person's walk?

Yes, if someone walks with a spring in their step, they can be said to "bounce" as they walk.

What does a "bounce check" mean?

It's a check that cannot be processed due to insufficient funds.

Is "bounce" always a physical action?

No, "bounce" can also refer to metaphorical actions like bouncing an idea off someone.

What does it mean to "bounce back"?

It means to recover or return to a normal state after a setback.

Is "bound" always about jumping?

No, "bound" can also mean limits, restrictions, or a direction towards which something is heading.

Does "bound" always indicate a positive leap?

No, it merely indicates a leap or jump, without a positive or negative connotation.

What does "bound" mean in terms of books?

It refers to how the pages are held together, like a hardbound or softbound book.

How is "bounce" used in digital communication?

In emails, a "bounce" means the message returned due to delivery failure.

How is "bound" used in travel context?

It indicates direction or destination, like "Chicago-bound train."

How is "bound" used in terms of responsibility?

When someone is "bound" by something, it means they are obligated or committed to it.

Can "bounce" be used in sports terminology?

Yes, in many sports like basketball or tennis, the term "bounce" is used to describe the ball's rebound.

Can "bound" be a synonym for "tied"?

In some contexts, like being "bound by duty," it can mean being tied or obligated.

How is "bound" used in terms of mathematics?

In math, "bounds" can represent the limits or extremes of a set or function.

Can "bounce" imply resilience?

Yes, especially in terms like "bounce back," indicating recovery or resilience.

Can "bound" refer to a relationship?

Yes, people can be "bound" together, indicating a strong connection or obligation.

What's the noun form of "bounce"?

The noun form is also "bounce," as in "The ball has a lot of bounce."

What does "out of bounds" mean?

It means outside the allowed or permissible limits, often used in sports.

How is "bounce" used in the context of business meetings?

One can "bounce ideas" in meetings, seeking feedback or reactions.

Can "bounce" be used in music?

Yes, "bounce" can describe a type of rhythm or a music genre, especially in hip-hop.

Can "bound" be an adjective?

Yes, as in "I'm bound to do it," indicating certainty or obligation.
About Author
Written by
Janet White
Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie Carlson
Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.

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