bounding 1 of 3

adjective

as in encircling

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

bounding

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of bound
1
as in defining
to mark the limits of the country is bounded by water on two sides

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in bordering
to serve as a border for being bounded on all sides by the Alps has helped Switzerland maintain its neutrality

Synonyms & Similar Words

bounding

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of bound
1
as in hopping
to move with a light springing step the child giggled and bounded off to play with her friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in leaping
to propel oneself upward or forward into the air a rabbit bounded down the garden path

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bounding
Verb
Perhaps most importantly, the brothers had an indisputable chemistry, both in the studio and bounding around racks of equipment on stage. — Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 8 Aug. 2026 Unlike more overtly depressive takes on this role, Bos’ Hamlet is impetuous and sardonic, often bounding up three stairs in a single step and unspooling his words, words, words as if his mouth can’t keep up with his restless mind. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 At 5-foot-9, Fery possesses a skill set perfectly suited for low-bounding grass. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 But Adams is bounding around the rooftop beaming, teeth porcelain-white, face slathered in makeup, hair firmly coiffed. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026 With the Rockies holding a 7-0 lead, Rumfield sent a drive to deep right-center, where the ball grazed the outside of Adell's glove before hitting his head and bounding over the wall. — CBS News, 2 June 2026 There is no shortage of footage of Shelton from his early career, bounding after balls with the fury of a linebacker chasing down a quarterback and then sliding through them — too far through them. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 25 May 2026 An antelope on a ridge teasingly stares before bounding off up the rocky hill. — Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 17 Apr. 2026 As soon as the door opens, Sadie jumps up to greet Koch before darting off to grab a toy, bounding back toward Koch with her tail still wagging. — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bounding
  1. embracing
  2. defining
  3. bordering
  4. hopping
  5. leaping
  6. surrounding
  7. bouncing
  8. jumping
Adjective
  • The saints’ days are celebrated, the great days of history are celebrated, and they’re celebrated with this sort of enormous exuberance and deep investment that is somehow very, very touching, very embracing, and very inclusive.
    — Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025
Definition of embracing
Verb
  • Intensity has been the defining word of Liverpool’s pre-season so far, with it constantly being referenced by any player interviewed about what has changed since Iraola’s arrival.
    — Andy Jones, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Bryant told Fortune the volunteer waitlist is growing by roughly 1,000 people a day, turning what started as an art project about AI dependence into a strange reversal of the AI boom’s defining anxiety.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of defining
Verb
  • The highest number of cases have been reported in Congo's eastern Ituri province, bordering Uganda.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But in Russian regions bordering Ukraine, which started to face Kyiv’s retaliatory strikes earlier than the rest of the country, support for the war is even higher.
    — Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026
Definition of bordering
Verb
  • Pets have been crawling, slithering, and hopping through classrooms across the United States for years.
    — Medara Udoekong, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Aug. 2026
  • For many, discovering quaint antique shops is the impetus for hopping in the car and taking a leisurely drive.
    — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of hopping
Verb
  • But no one suspects Becca, who walks away with an additional seven points, leaping from a tie for last place (with Izzy and Erika) to a clean win, and the fanciest, courtliest, most butterfly-est wig of them all.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • With runners on first and second in the fifth inning, Furcal made a leaping grab of pitcher Woody Williams’ liner.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of leaping
Adjective
  • The system, which serves 100,000 residents in Iowa City and its surrounding, mostly rural communities, typifies the challenges most libraries face.
    — Adeel Hassan, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • Since then, the bustling market serves the surrounding and significant Latino community and others.
    — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Definition of surrounding
Verb
  • Or spending a day bouncing in the waves on a Caribbean island or on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
    — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Shimmy’s talents shine brightest here, his cadence balancing the beat’s bouncing 808s against the sample’s breezy melodies.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of bouncing
Verb
  • Defense attorneys for the Massachusetts labor and delivery nurse do not deny that Clancy strangled her three children — Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months — before jumping from a second-story window of her suburban home in 2023.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • An avid athlete, Norton has participated in competitive horse jumping and skydiving and has also played tennis and skied.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of jumping

Browse Nearby Words

bounders
bounding
boundless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bounding. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bounding

Nglish: Translation of bounding for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vacuous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All