rebound

[v. ri-bound, ree-bound; n. ree-bound, ri-bound] /v. rɪˈbaʊnd, ˈriˈbaʊnd; n. ˈriˌbaʊnd, rɪˈbaʊnd/
verb (used without object)
1.
to bound or spring back from force of impact.
2.
to recover, as from ill health or discouragement.
3.
Basketball. to gain hold of rebounds:
a forward who rebounds well off the offensive board.
verb (used with object)
4.
to cause to bound back; cast back.
5.
Basketball. to gain hold of (a rebound):
The guard rebounded the ball in backcourt.
noun
6.
the act of rebounding; recoil.
7.
Basketball.
  1. a ball that bounces off the backboard or the rim of the basket.
  2. an instance of gaining hold of such a ball.
8.
Ice Hockey. a puck that bounces off the gear or person of a goalkeeper attempting to make a save.
Idioms
9.
on the rebound,
  1. after bouncing off the ground, a wall, etc.:
    He hit the ball on the rebound.
  2. after being rejected by another:
    She didn't really love him; she married him on the rebound.
Origin
1300-50; Middle English (v.) < Middle French rebondir, equivalent to Old French re- re- + bondir to bound2
Can be confused
rebound, redound, resound.
British Dictionary definitions for on the rebound

rebound

verb (intransitive) (rɪˈbaʊnd)
1.
to spring back, as from a sudden impact
2.
to misfire, esp so as to hurt the perpetrator: the plan rebounded
noun (ˈriːbaʊnd)
3.
the act or an instance of rebounding
4.
on the rebound
  1. in the act of springing back
  2. (informal) in a state of recovering from rejection, disappointment, etc: he married her on the rebound from an unhappy love affair
Word Origin
C14: from Old French rebondir, from re- + bondir to bound²
Word Origin and History for on the rebound

rebound

v.

late 14c., "to spring, leap," also "return to afflict" (early 15c.), from Old French rebondir "leap back, resound; repulse, push back," from re- "back" (see re-) + bondir "leap, bound" (see bound (v.)). Sense of "to spring back from force of impact" is recorded from late 14c. Sports use probably first in tennis; basketball sense is attested from 1914. Related: Rebounded; rebounding.

n.

1520s, in reference to a ball, from rebound (v.). Sense in basketball from 1920 (from 1917 in ice hockey). Meaning "period of reaction or renewed activity after disturbance" is from 1570s.

Idioms and Phrases with on the rebound

on the rebound

Reacting to or recovering from an unhappy experience, especially the end of a love affair. For example, A month after breaking up with Larry, Jane got engaged to Bob, a classic case of being on the rebound. This metaphoric term, alluding to the bouncing back of a ball, has been used in the present sense since the mid-1800s, although rebound alone had been used figuratively for much longer.

rebound

see: on the rebound