Word
recoil
Phoneticsre·coil, stress on the second syllable
/ɹiˈkɔɪɫ/
Definition
v. to move back suddenly because you are scared, shocked, or hurt. You might also do this if you see something very gross or unpleasant.
v. to spring back or flinch involuntarily in fear, horror, or disgust. Also describes the sudden backward movement of a firearm upon discharge.
Examples
“She felt herself recoil when she saw the spider.”
“Most people recoil at the sight of the bloody injury, but the experienced nurse remained perfectly calm.”
“The public began to recoil from the candidate's increasingly aggressive rhetoric, leading to a sharp decline in his polling numbers just weeks before the general election.”
Examples
simple
“She felt herself recoil when she saw the spider.”
contextual
“Most people recoil at the sight of the bloody injury, but the experienced nurse remained perfectly calm.”
complex
“The public began to recoil from the candidate's increasingly aggressive rhetoric, leading to a sharp decline in his polling numbers just weeks before the general election.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and often takes the preposition 'from' or 'at'.
Real-World Examples
“Video of the moment showed that while Trump recoiled from the sound of the flyover, Xi remained impassive, as did the wives of both men.” “He twice kicked the creature’s face, causing it to “rear, flinch and immediately recoil” as well as prompting it to try to flee.” Etymology
From Old French reculer. Further from Latin re- + cūlus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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