recoil Hear it!

recoil definition

re·coil (ri ko̵il′; also for n., esp. of weapons, rē′ko̵il′)

intransitive verb

    1. to draw back, fall back, or stagger back; retreat
    2. to start or shrink back, as in fear, surprise, or disgust
  2. to fly back when released, as a spring, or kick back when fired, as a gun
  3. to return to or as to the starting point or source; react (on or upon)

Etymology: ME recoilen < OFr reculer < re-, back + cul < L culus, the anus, buttocks: see culet

noun

  1. the act of recoiling
  2. the state of having recoiled; reaction
  3. the distance through which a gun, spring, etc. recoils

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

recoil Synonyms

recoil

v.

withdraw, turn away, shrink from, draw back, step back, pull back, start back, flinch, start, demur, blink, shirk, falter, dodge, swerve, wince, cringe, duck, quail; see also retreat 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

recoil Usage Examples

Object

  • atom: Along its path, an individual projectile may create fast recoil atoms which in turn may initiate collision cascades of moving target atoms.

Preposition: at

  • thought: I recoil at the thought of how misguided I then was.

Modifying Another Word

  • no: The " no recoil " u see on the video is not a cheat.

Used with why or when

  • when: There's a dab of ET in the way his extra-terrestrials try fooling around with a bicycle and nervously recoil when it falls over.

Preposition: in

  • horror: Now, some of you may recoil in horror at this idea.

Preposition: from

  • idea: But I recoiled from the idea of this bondage.
recoil usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"recoil." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/recoil>

APA Style

recoil. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/recoil

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