A ricochet (pronounced “RIK-oh-shay”) happens when something bounces off a hard surface and changes direction. If you throw a rubber ball against a brick wall and it bounces back at an angle, it ricochets. The word can be a noun (describing the bounce itself) or a verb (describing the action of bouncing).

You see ricochets in basketball when the ball hits the rim and bounces away toward a player. In pool or billiards, skilled players make the cue ball ricochet off the sides of the table to hit their target. A skipping stone ricochets across the water's surface with each bounce.

You'll often hear the word in war movies or action stories. A bullet might ricochet off a metal surface and fly in an unexpected direction, which makes ricochets dangerous and unpredictable.

The unpredictability is what makes the word interesting: when something ricochets, you can't always predict where it will go next. Ideas can ricochet around a brainstorming session, bouncing from person to person and changing direction with each new thought.