recline

verb

re·​cline ri-ˈklīn How to pronounce recline (audio)
reclined; reclining

transitive verb

: to cause or permit to incline backwards

intransitive verb

1
: to lean or incline backwards
2
: repose, lie

Examples of recline in a Sentence

She was reclining on the sofa, watching TV. The theater has reclining seats. He reclined his seat so that he could nap more comfortably.
Recent Examples on the Web Along the northern horizon, the Oscura mountain range reclined like a brown walrus in the sunlight. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Oct. 2024 In the former, a topless man half reclines on a twin bed—a latter-day Madame Récamier. Hilton Als, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024 Some budget airlines also don't allow seats to recline. Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2024 Although conventional, lever-pull gaming chairs can recline to nearly any angle, less bulky lean-back gaming chairs usually have points that can be set to limit or lock the reclining angle. PCMAG, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for recline 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French recliner, from Latin reclinare, from re- + clinare to bend — more at lean

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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

Dictionary Entries Near recline

Cite this Entry

“Recline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recline. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

recline

verb
re·​cline ri-ˈklīn How to pronounce recline (audio)
reclined; reclining
1
: to lean or cause to lean backwards
2
: repose entry 1 sense 2, lie
reclining on the sofa
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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