recede

1 of 2

verb (1)

re·​cede ri-ˈsēd How to pronounce recede (audio)
receded; receding
Synonyms of recede

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move back or away : withdraw
a receding hairline
b
: to slant backward
2
: to grow less or smaller : diminish, decrease
a receding deficit

recede

2 of 2

verb (2)

re·​cede (ˌ)rē-ˈsēd How to pronounce recede (audio)
receded; receding; recedes

transitive verb

: to cede back to a former possessor

Synonyms of recede

Relevance

Verb (1)

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Choose the Right Synonym for recede

recede, retreat, retract, back mean to move backward.

recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space.

the flood waters gradually receded

retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached.

retreating soldiers

retract implies drawing back from an extended position.

a cat retracting its claws

back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion.

backed off on the throttle

Examples of recede in a Sentence

Verb (1) the sound of sirens receded as the fire engines roared off into the distance after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Neeley said the floodwaters were receding but left mud and silt, much of which has been contaminated with sewage because of failures at waste plants. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 In the Farmington area of New Mexico, local officials said that swollen rivers were receding but that many people remained evacuated and hundreds were without power. — Anna Wilder, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 Nighttime mouth breathing is associated with snoring, dry mouth, receding gums and sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing stops repeatedly during sleep. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026 By century’s end, however, the specter of famine had largely receded (aside from tragedies of war and misgovernment, no small caveat). — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recede

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Latin recedere to go back, from re- + cedere to go

Verb (2)

re- + cede

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recede was in the 15th century

Rhymes for recede

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Browse Nearby Words

recce
recede
recedence
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recede. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

recede

verb
re·​cede
ri-ˈsēd
receded; receding
1
a
: to move back or away
the flood waters receded
b
: to slant backward
a receding forehead
2
: to grow less or smaller
a receding debt
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