Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, 3rd person singular presenttense recoils, present participle recoiling, past tense, past participle recoiledpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (rɪkɔɪl). The noun is pronounced (riːkɔɪl).
1. verb
If something makes you recoil, you move your body quickly away from it because it frightens, offends, or hurts you.
For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me. I recoiled in horror. [VERB]
We are attracted by nice smells and recoil from nasty ones. [VERB + from]
Recoil is also a noun.
His reaction was as much of a rebuff as a physical recoil.
...his small body jerking in recoil from the volume of his shouting.
2. verb
If you recoilfrom doing something or recoilat the idea of something, you refuse to do it or accept it because you dislike it so much.
People used to recoil from the idea of getting into debt. [VERB + from]
She recoiled at the number of young girls who came forward. [VERB + at]
Synonyms: draw back, shrink, falter, shy away More Synonyms of recoil
3. singular noun [also no determiner]
The recoil of a gun is the quick backward movement that it makes when it is fired.
I assembled the weapon, checked the firing and recoil mechanism and loaded it.
Synonyms: kickback, kick More Synonyms of recoil
More Synonyms of recoil
recoil in British English
verb (rɪˈkɔɪl)(intransitive)
1.
to jerk back, as from an impact or violent thrust
2. (often foll by from)
to draw back in fear, horror, or disgust
to recoil from the sight of blood
3. (foll byon or upon)
to go wrong, esp so as to hurt the perpetrator
4.
(of a nucleus, atom, molecule, or elementary particle) to change momentum as a result of the emission of a photon or particle
noun (rɪˈkɔɪl, ˈriːkɔɪl)
5.
a.
the backward movement of a gun when fired
b.
the distance moved
6.
the motion acquired by a particle as a result of its emission of a photon or other particle
7.
the act of recoiling
Derived forms
recoiler (reˈcoiler)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French reculer, from re- + cul rump, from Latin cūlus
recoil in American English
(rɪˈkɔɪl; also for n., esp. of weapons, ˈriˌkɔɪl)
verb intransitive
1.
a.
to draw back, fall back, or stagger back; retreat
b.
to start or shrink back, as in fear, surprise, or disgust
2.
to fly back when released, as a spring, or kick back when fired, as a gun
3.
to return to or as to the starting point or source; react (on or upon)
noun
4.
the act of recoiling
5.
the state of having recoiled; reaction
6.
the distance through which a gun, spring, etc. recoils
Word origin
ME recoilen < OFr reculer < re-, back + cul < L culus, the anus, buttocks: see culet
Examples of 'recoil' in a sentence
recoil
Before you recoil in horror, I mean his childhood haven.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I still recoil at the memory of the year when there were blue trees outside Buckingham Palace.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Does she set out to be photographed or recoil at the sight of the cameras?
The Sun (2008)
They may well now recoil after the frenzy of violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
What you buy depends on whether you want your guests to laugh or recoil in horror!
The Sun (2013)
At first she recoiled from the idea that her grandfather would soon pass away as well.
Christianity Today (2000)
But why so strongly and instinctively recoil?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They want us recoil in horror and call off attempts to stop them marauding to power.
The Sun (2014)
They are either touched by its poetry and humanity or they recoil in horror.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She recoiled in horror when the noble young assistant offered his chaste embrace.
Eric Newby A BOOK OF LANDS AND PEOPLES (2003)
Competitors and spectators recoiled in horror at the extent of his injuries.
The Sun (2013)
The instinct of many parents at the thought of their little darling playing rugby is to recoil in horror.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
When he suggested dinner, she recoiled in horror.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Or if they did, they would recoil in horror.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Not bringing anything much to the party, not causing bystanders to recoil in horror either.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But she recoiled in horror when the poisonous Chilean rose spider wriggled into life.
The Sun (2010)
I squeezed the trigger and his gun went flying as his body recoiled.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I mention this idea to a couple of friends and they recoil in horror.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The West recoiled with horror.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Interestingly, nearly five years on, many who recoiled in horror have changed their tune.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I'd normally recoil at the thought of hotel staff providing entertainment, but here it happened unannounced.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
recoil
British English: recoil VERB
If something makes you recoil, you move your body quickly away from it because it frightens, offends, or hurts you.
For a moment I thought he was going to kiss me. I recoiled in horror.
American English: recoil
Brazilian Portuguese: recuar
Chinese: 躲闪
European Spanish: retroceder
French: avoir un mouvement de recul
German: zurückweichen
Italian: indietreggiare
Japanese: 後ずさりする
Korean: 뒷걸음치다
European Portuguese: recuar
Latin American Spanish: retroceder
1 (verb)
Definition
to jerk or spring back
I recoiled in horror.
Synonyms
jerk back
pull back
flinch
quail
kick
react
rebound
His shot rebounded from a post.
spring back
resile
2 (verb)
Definition
to draw back in fear or horror
People used to recoil from the idea of getting into debt.
Synonyms
draw back
I drew back with a horrified scream.
shrink
falter
shy away
flinch
The slightest pressure made her flinch.
quail
The very word makes many of us quail.
balk at
3 (verb)
Definition
(of an action) to go wrong so as to hurt the person responsible
Synonyms
backfire
The President's tactics could backfire.
go wrong
Nearly everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.
rebound
Mia realised her trick had rebounded on her.
boomerang
The trick boomeranged, though.
misfire
Some of their policies had misfired.
go pear-shaped (informal)
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of recoiling
His reaction was as much a rebuff as a physical recoil.
Synonyms
jerking back
reaction
All new fashion starts out as a reaction against existing convention.
pulling back
flinching
quailing
springing back
2 (noun)
Definition
the backward movement of a gun when fired
The police officer fires again, tensed against the recoil.
Synonyms
kickback
kick
Additional synonyms
in the sense of boomerang
Definition
(of a plan) to recoil unexpectedly, harming its originator
The trick boomeranged, though.
Synonyms
rebound,
backfire,
come home to roost
in the sense of flinch
Definition
to draw back suddenly from pain or something unpleasant
The slightest pressure made her flinch.
Synonyms
wince,
start,
duck,
shrink,
cringe,
quail,
recoil,
cower,
blench
in the sense of go wrong
Definition
to turn out badly or not as intended
Nearly everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.
Synonyms
fail,
flop (informal),
fall through,
come to nothing,
miscarry,
misfire,
come to grief (informal),
go pear-shaped (informal)
Synonyms of 'recoil'
recoil
Explore 'recoil' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of misfire
Definition
to fail to have the intended result
Some of their policies had misfired.
Synonyms
fail,
go wrong,
fall through,
miscarry,
go pear-shaped (informal),
fail to go off,
go phut (informal)
in the sense of quail
Definition
to shrink back with fear
The very word makes many of us quail.
Synonyms
shrink,
cringe,
flinch,
shake,
faint,
tremble,
quake,
shudder,
falter,
droop,
blanch,
recoil,
cower,
blench,
have cold feet (informal)
in the sense of reaction
Definition
any action resisting another
All new fashion starts out as a reaction against existing convention.
Synonyms
counteraction,
compensation,
backlash,
recoil,
counterbalance,
counterpoise
in the sense of rebound
Definition
to spring back from a sudden impact
His shot rebounded from a post.
Synonyms
bounce,
ricochet,
spring back,
return,
resound,
recoil
in the sense of rebound
Definition
(of a plan or action) to misfire so as to hurt the person responsible