recoil

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
2. (countable, uncountable) The state or condition of having recoiled.
3. (countable, uncountable) The energy transmitted back to the shooter from a firearm which has fired. Recoil is a function of the weight of the weapon, the weight of the projectile, and the speed at which it leaves the muzzle.
4. (countable, uncountable) An escapement in which, after each beat, the scape-wheel recoils slightly.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.
2. (archaic, intransitive) To recoil before an opponent.
3. (intransitive) Of a firearm: to quickly push back when fired.
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To retire, withdraw.

Synonyms

rebound

flinch

wince

kick

shrink

bounce

cringe

shrink back

ricochet

backlash

bound

retreat

quail

spring

recede

repercussion

resile

reverberate

cower

backfire

start back

squinch

reaction

kick back

shudder

recoiling

recession

funk

falter

regress

take a hop

step back

startle

spring back

balk

start

setback

blench

pull back

rewind

⏪

retrogress

jig

jib

change

jerk

hesitation

beat a retreat

hesitate

resist

resilience

Translations

recul

rinculo

reculer

rinculare

rebondir

contraccolpo

abprallen

recuo

zurückprallen

zurückschrecken

terugdeinzen

terugspringen

recuar

Rückstoß

zurückspringen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɪˈkɔɪl/

Etymology

From Old French reculer. Further from Latin re- + cūlus.