5 uses
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Definition
to move backward suddenly (sometimes figuratively)
especially:
- the backward jerk of a gun or cannon when it is fired
- when a person flinches (suddenly draws back) from someone or something, as with fear, disgust, or pain
- when a person is emotionally repulsed, as by disgust
- when something intended to go in one direction figuratively falls back in the opposite direction; for example, a story told to hurt someone that comes back to hurt the teller
- The netman recoiled, then lunged toward him in pain and fury, his hands outstretched like claws.Chapter 2 (74% in)
- The languages, your knowledge of geography-cities I've never or barely heard of-your obsession for avoiding the use of names, names you want to say but won't; your propensity for confrontation-attack, recoil, hide, run-all rather violent, I might add.Chapter 1 (72% in)
- And with each crack, pain jolted him, bolts searing one after another through his head, his mind and body recoiling under the onslaught of the name.Chapter 17 (26% in)
- "Marseilles?" the Lavier woman recoiled.Chapter 17 (78% in)
- He lurched backward, recoiling into the wall, his hands in front of his eyes.Chapter 17 (92% in)
There are no more uses of "recoil" in The Bourne Identity.
Typical Usage
(best examples)