recoil
recoil — verb
- recoilpresent simple I / you / we / they
- recoilshe / she / it
- recoiledpast simple
- recoiling-ing form
1. to pull your body backward suddenly when something frightens, disgusts, or shock
to pull your body backward suddenly when something frightens, disgusts, or shocks you.
Eli recoiled when a large spider dropped onto the kitchen table.
recoiled when [trigger event] — typical cause pattern
The smell from the old fish market was so strong that Inês recoiled before she could stop herself.
recoiled from [strong stimulus]
Amihan recoiled from the hot steam that rushed out of the broken pipe.
When the nurse showed him the wound, Tariq recoiled and turned his face away.
Even from across the room, the bitter chemical odour made Rin recoil.
- flinch
a smaller, quicker movement, often just a facial twitch rather than a full body withdrawal
- wince
focuses on the facial expression of pain or embarrassment, not necessarily body movement
- shrink
suggests drawing into oneself rather than backward, often from emotional discomfort
- cower
implies crouching down in fear rather than springing backward
文法句型
recoil from [something/someone]
recoil at [something]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'from' (recoil from something) or 'at' (recoil at something). The subject is typically a person; the cause is a concrete physical stimulus — a sight, smell, sound, or touch.
常見錯誤
2. to firmly refuse to consider a thought or suggestion because it strikes you as m
to firmly refuse to consider a thought or suggestion because it strikes you as morally wrong or simply disgusting.
James recoiled at the suggestion that they should cut corners on safety to save money.
recoiled at [proposal]
When the committee proposed reducing healthcare funding, Nora recoiled and demanded a vote against it.
Many voters recoiled from the candidate's extreme views on immigration.
Chidi recoiled from the idea of publishing false data, knowing it would betray his scientific ethics.
The town council recoiled at the thought of allowing a landfill near the school.
- balk at
more common in everyday speech; implies hesitation rather than outright rejection
- shrink from
suggests avoidance driven by timidity rather than strong moral objection
- shudder at
emphasizes the emotional or visceral reaction
文法句型
recoil at [idea/suggestion/proposal]
recoil from [thought/notion/principle]
用法筆記
Unlike Verb/1 (DRAW BACK IN FEAR), this sense takes an abstract object — an idea, suggestion, or principle — rather than a physical stimulus. The reaction is moral or intellectual, not physical.
常見錯誤
3. to spring or jerk backward suddenly when a force is released, especially when a
to spring or jerk backward suddenly when a force is released, especially when a gun is fired or a mechanical part is released under tension.
The hunting rifle recoiled hard against Joaquín's shoulder after he pulled the trigger.
recoiled [adverb] against [body part] — mechanical-force pattern
Vikram's bowstring recoiled when he released the arrow, snapping against the branch behind him.
The heavy door recoiled on its hinges after the blast wave hit it.
The old spring recoiled with a sharp twang when Beatriz released the latch.
When the metal bar was bent too far, it suddenly recoiled and struck the workbench.
- rebound
implies bouncing off a surface; less specific to firearms or tension release
- spring back
more general, can describe any elastic return to original position
- jerk back
emphasizes the sharp, jarring quality of the movement
文法句型
recoil [adverb]
recoil against [something]
用法筆記
The subject is typically an inanimate object (gun, spring, door). Distinguish from Verb/1 (DRAW BACK IN FEAR): this sense describes a physical law of motion, not a conscious reaction.
常見錯誤
recoil — noun
1. the sharp backward thrust that a weapon delivers at the moment of discharge, cau
the sharp backward thrust that a weapon delivers at the moment of discharge, caused by the force of expanding gases pushing the bullet forward.
The recoil of the shotgun nearly knocked Rafael off balance during his first hunting trip.
recoil of [weapon] — possessive/genitive structure
Nia braced the rifle stock firmly against her shoulder to absorb the recoil.
absorb/reduce the recoil — typical verb collocations
Modern firearms use padded stocks and gas-operated systems to reduce the recoil felt by the shooter.
The powerful recoil of the antique musket left a dark bruise on the soldier's shoulder.
Hunters often choose lighter rifles, but those usually produce more recoil than heavy ones.
文法句型
the recoil of [gun/rifle]
absorb/reduce/counteract the recoil
用法筆記
Can be used as both countable ('a sharp recoil') and uncountable ('felt a lot of recoil'). This is the most common noun sense — nearly all everyday uses of 'recoil' as a noun refer to gun kickback.
2. the physical or emotional act of pulling or springing backward away from somethi
the physical or emotional act of pulling or springing backward away from something that is frightening, unpleasant, or shocking.
Beatriz's sudden recoil from the snake told the others everything they needed to know.
possessive + recoil from [trigger]
There was a visible recoil in the crowd when the speaker made his shocking statement.
Mizuki's recoil from the icy water was so dramatic that she nearly dropped her camera.
Anong felt a mental recoil every time she thought about the frightening accident.
- flinch
a briefer, less dramatic movement — more of a twitch than a full backward motion
- withdrawal
slower and more deliberate; implies a conscious decision to pull back
文法句型
[possessive] recoil from [something]
a recoil of [body part/emotion]
用法筆記
This is the broad, abstract noun sense covering both physical and emotional recoil. It is less common than Noun/1 (GUN KICKBACK) and tends toward literary or formal writing. When a physical cause is specified, it overlaps with Verb/1 (DRAW BACK IN FEAR); when emotional, with Verb/2 (SHUN AN IDEA).