English Reference
Adjective

bouncy

adj.
B1 Intermediate US /ˈbaʊnsi/ UK /bˈaʊnsi/ boun·cy

adj.able to spring back into shape after being squeezed or hit. It also describes someone who has a lot of energy and seems very happy.

adj.capable of returning to an original shape after compression; resilient. When applied to people or music, it describes a lively, energetic, and cheerful quality.


SIMPLE

The children love playing on the bouncy castle.

CONTEXTUAL

The new mattress is quite bouncy, which might take some time to get used to if you prefer a firm bed.

COMPLEX

Her bouncy personality and relentless optimism made her the natural choice for leading the team through the difficult transition period.

Usage

Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'seem' to describe a person's mood.


From bounce + -y.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated