recoilre‧coil /rɪˈkɔɪl/ verb [intransitive] 
She recoiled from his touch as if she had been slapped.2to feel such a strong dislike of a particular situation that you want to avoid itrecoil from/at He recoils from everything in life that demands hard work. We recoil in horror from the thought of subjecting someone to extreme pain.3if a gun recoils, it moves backwards very quickly after it has been fired—recoil /ˈriːkɔɪl/ noun [singular, uncountable]: The recoil of the gun sent him flying backwards.
WORD ORIGINrecoil
Origin:
1100-1200 Old French reculer, from cul ‘ass’VERB TABLE
recoil
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | recoil |
| he, she, it | recoils | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | recoiled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have recoiled |
| he, she, it | has recoiled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had recoiled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will recoil |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have recoiled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am recoiling |
| he, she, it | is recoiling | |
| you, we, they | are recoiling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was recoiling |
| you, we, they | were recoiling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been recoiling |
| he, she, it | has been recoiling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been recoiling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be recoiling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been recoiling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- She recoiled from his touch.
- She looked at the dead body and recoiled.
- And for the rest of his life he recoiled from the popular mission and missioner.
- But the Republican governors recoiled from the prospect of reopening the welfare bill for anything.
- It stung her deeply and she recoiled at once.
- She saw the names of prominent corporate donors mentioned liberally throughout the library and recoiled.
- The divorce was acrimonious; she still recoils at the name Andy.
- They recoil away as if the intruder were unpleasant to them - something more than simply shading them from sunlight.
- They met the same tempest of shell, grape, canister, and musketry, and recoiled.
- They they do not recoil from each other, but blend together in one mass.
Longman Language Activatorto move backwards
to walk backwards in a particular direction, especially in order to leave a room or building: · Hardy backed slowly toward the door.· Simms quietly backed out of the office, his face red with embarrassment.· When she was sure the baby was asleep, she backed softly through the bedroom door.
to walk slowly backwards, especially to get further away from someone or to avoid a dangerous situation: · "Are you crazy?'' she cried, backing away.back away from: · We slowly backed away from the rattlesnake.
especially American to move backwards a little, for example in order to give someone enough space to move: · Back up a bit so that everyone can see.· Can you back up a few steps so that I can open the door?
to walk backwards or away from the direction you were walking before, especially in order to avoid an embarrassing or unpleasant situation: · Jim saw me approaching and quickly retreated down a side street.retreat from/into/to etc: · "You haven't heard the last of this!'' shouted Spencer, retreating up the stairs.
to take one step or a few steps backwards: · Myers quickly stepped back into the house when he caught sight of us.· As the lights of a car approached he stepped back into the shadows.
to suddenly move part or all of your body backwards, away from something that is unpleasant or frightening: · She looked at the dead body and recoiled.recoil from: · She recoiled from his touch.
to move quickly and suddenly backwards in order to get away from someone, especially because you are upset, angry, or frightened: · When Helen took his arm he tried to pull away.· I tried to kiss her but she pulled away.
WORD SETSair rifle, nounair-to-air, adjectiveammo, nounammunition, nounanti-aircraft, adjectiveanti-personnel, adjectiveanti-tank, adjectivearmament, nounarmoured car, nounarmourer, nounarmour-plated, adjectivearrow, nounarrowhead, nounarsenal, nounartillery, nounatomic bomb, nounautomatic, nounballistic missile, nounballistics, nounbandolier, nounbarbed, adjectivebarrage, nounbarrage balloon, nounbarrel, nounbattering ram, nounbattery, nounbayonet, nounbayonet, verbbazooka, nounBB gun, nounblank, nounblaze, verbblowpipe, nounbludgeon, nounblunderbuss, nounbolt, nounbomb, nounbomber, nounbombing, nounbomb scare, nounbooby trap, nounboom, nounbore, nounbow, nounbrass knuckles, nounbroadsword, nounbuckshot, nounbullet, nounbullet-proof, adjectivebutt, nouncaisson, nouncalibre, nouncanister, nouncannon, nouncannonball, nouncarbine, nouncartridge, nouncatapult, nounchain mail, nounchamber, nouncharge, verbchemical warfare, nounchemical weapon, nounclip, nouncluster bomb, nouncock, verbColt, conventional, adjectivecordite, nouncosh, nouncrossbow, nouncruise missile, nounCS gas, nouncudgel, nouncutlass, nouncut-throat razor, noundagger, noundart, noundecommission, verbdetonator, noundevice, noundirk, noundisarm, verbdischarge, verbdismount, verbdouble-barrelled, duel, nounduel, verbdum-dum, nounelevation, nounemplacement, nounequalizer, nounfirearm, nounfirebomb, nounflak, nounflame thrower, nounflick knife, nounforty-five, nounfusillade, nounfusion bomb, noungauge, noungerm warfare, noungrenade, nounguidance, nounguided missile, noungun, noungun carriage, noungunner, noungunnery, noungunpowder, noungun-running, noungunshot, nounhaft, nounhair trigger, nounhalberd, nounhammer, nounhand grenade, nounhandgun, nounH-bomb, nounheat-seeking, adjectiveheavy, adjectivehilt, nounholster, nounhoming device, nounhowitzer, nounhydrogen bomb, nounICBM, nounincendiary, adjectiveKalashnikov, nounknuckle-duster, nounlance, nounlandmine, nounlive, adjectivelongbow, nounlong-range, adjectivemace, nounmachete, nounmachine gun, nounmagazine, nounmagnum, nounmarksman, nounmarksmanship, nounmegaton, nounmisfire, verbmissile, nounmortar, nounmunitions, nounmushroom cloud, nounmusket, nounmustard gas, nounmuzzle, nounnapalm, nounnerve gas, nounnightstick, nounnitroglycerine, nounnon-proliferation, nounnosecone, nounnuclear, adjectivenuke, verbnuke, nounordnance, nounparry, verbpayload, nounpepper, verbpike, nounpistol, nounplastic explosive, noun.22, nounpoison gas, nounpommel, nounpound, verbprime, verbprimer, nounprojectile, nounpropellant, nounquarterstaff, nounramrod, nounrange, nounrapid-fire, adjectiverapier, nounrearm, verbrecoil, verbrepeater, nounreport, nounrevolver, nounrifle, nounrocket, nounround, nounrubber bullet, nounsabre, nounsafety catch, nounsawn-off shotgun, nounscabbard, nounscimitar, nounsemi-automatic, adjectiveshaft, nounsheathe, verbshell, nounshell, verbshield, nounshooter, nounshot, nounshotgun, nounshrapnel, nounsidearm, nounsight, nounsilencer, nounsilo, nounsix-shooter, nounslash, nounsling, nounslingshot, nounslug, nounsmart bomb, nounsmoke bomb, nounsmokescreen, nounsnipe, verbsniper, nounspear, nounspear, verbSten gun, nounstockpile, nounstockpile, verbstun gun, nounsubmachine gun, nounsurface-to-air missile, nounsurface-to-surface missile, nounswordsmanship, nountank, nountear gas, nounthermonuclear, adjectivetime bomb, nountommy gun, nountorpedo, nountorpedo, verbtracer, nountrident, nountrigger, nountruncheon, noununload, verbvolley, nounvolley, verbwarhead, nounwater cannon, nounweapon, nounweaponry, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY We recoil in horror from the thought of subjecting someone to extreme pain.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1to move back suddenly and quickly from something you do not like or are afraid ofrecoil from/at We recoil in horror from the thought of subjecting someone to extreme pain.· Mobuto recoiled in horror, stumbling back painfully into the Studebaker's wing mirror.· I should have gasped and recoiled in horror.· He read about Jacques Delors's federalist vision from which he recoiled in horror.· The idea of their having a say in the running of a club appears to make officials recoil with horror.· Rebus's face changed; he recoiled in horror, but Osvaldo had his thumbs hooked in the malai's belt.
She recoiled from his touch as if she had been slapped.2to feel such a strong dislike of a particular situation that you want to avoid itrecoil from/at He recoils from everything in life that demands hard work. We recoil in horror from the thought of subjecting someone to extreme pain.3if a gun recoils, it moves backwards very quickly after it has been fired—recoil /ˈriːkɔɪl/ noun [singular, uncountable]: The recoil of the gun sent him flying backwards.