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 WhiteJanet 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 CarlsonAimie 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.
