rebound
/ˈriːbaʊnd/
Very CommonA relationship or hookup entered shortly after a breakup, often more about distraction or ego repair than genuine connection.
Can describe the person (the rebound) or the act (rebounding). When said about someone being used as a rebound, it carries a slight sympathetic or pitying tone. When said about yourself, it is usually honest self-reflection.
Real-world examples5 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | they broke up in march and he was dating someone new in april. she's a rebound. | The timeline makes it obvious the new relationship is not grounded in real feelings. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | i knew i was rebounding but i did it anyway because i couldn't be alone | Self-aware admission of entering a relationship for the wrong reasons. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | she just got out of a three year relationship. please do not be her rebound. | Warning someone not to get involved with a person who is still processing a breakup. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | went on one date, felt nothing, realized i was on the rebound and stopped myself | Someone recognized their own post-breakup emotional state before going further. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 05 | the worst part of being a rebound is when you realize it months later | The person used as a rebound eventually figures out they were a placeholder. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- Describing someone who started dating again very quickly after a breakup.
- Calling out that a new relationship seems more like distraction than genuine interest.
- Describing yourself after jumping into something new before you were ready.
Do not use it when
- The new relationship is serious and the person has genuinely moved on.
- You mean someone you dated briefly for other reasons, not post-breakup.Use “situationship” instead.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
Borrowed from basketball, where rebounding means recovering the ball after a missed shot. Applied to dating at least since the 1970s and solidified in everyday speech through relationship advice columns and pop culture.
- First seen
- 1970s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/reboundUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0