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⇱ ricochet - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

ricochet

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈrɪkəʃeɪ/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˌrɪkəˈʃeɪ, ˈrɪkəˌʃeɪ/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(rik′ə shā′, rik′ə shā′ or, esp. Brit., rik′ə shet′)


Inflections of 'ricochet' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
When both "t" and "tt" forms exist, spellings with a double "t" are correct, but rare, in US English, while those with a single "t" are not correct in UK English.
ricochets
v 3rd person singular
ricocheting
v pres p (US & UK)
ricochetting
v pres p (Mainly UK)
ricocheted
v past (US & UK)
ricochetted
v past (Mainly UK)
ricocheted
v past p (US & UK)
ricochetted
v past p (Mainly UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ric•o•chet /ˌrɪkəˈʃeɪ, ˈrɪkəˌʃeɪ/USA pronunciation   n., v., -cheted /-ˈʃeɪd, -ˌʃeɪd/USA pronunciation  -chet•ing /-ˈʃeɪɪŋ, -ˌʃeɪɪŋ/USA pronunciation   or (esp. Brit.) -chet•ted /-ˈʃɛtɪd, -ˌʃɛtɪd/USA pronunciation
       -chet•ting 
      /-ˈʃɛtɪŋ, -ˌʃɛtɪŋ/.USA pronunciation  

    n. [countable]
    1. the rebound of an object thrown or propelled after it hits a glancing blow against a surface.

    v. [no object]
    1. to move in this way, such as a bullet:bullets ricocheting off the walls.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ric•o•chet  (rik′ə shā′, rik′ə shā′ or, esp. Brit., rik′ə shet′),USA pronunciation n., v., -cheted (-shād′, -shād′),USA pronunciation -chet•ing  (-shā′ing, -shā′ing)USA pronunciation or (esp. Brit.) -chet•ted (-shet′id),USA pronunciation
      -chet•ting 
      (-shet′ing).USA pronunciation 

    n. 
    1. the motion of an object or a projectile in rebounding or deflecting one or more times from the surface over which it is passing or against which it hits a glancing blow.

    v.i. 
    1. to move in this way, as a projectile.
    • French; origin, originally uncertain
    • 1760–70
      2. rebound, deflect, glance.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ricochet /ˈrɪkəˌʃeɪ; ˈrɪkəˌʃɛt/ vb ( -chets, -cheting /-ˌʃeɪɪŋ/, -cheted /-ˌʃeɪd/, -chets, -chetting /-ˌʃɛtɪŋ/, -chetted /-ˌʃɛtɪd/)
  1. (intransitive) (esp of a bullet) to rebound from a surface or surfaces, usually with a characteristic whining or zipping sound
 n
  1. the motion or sound of a rebounding object, esp a bullet
  2. an object, esp a bullet, that ricochets
Etymology: 18th Century: from French, of unknown origin
'ricochet' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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