recede

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verb

Definition of RECEDE

1

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually <the sound of sirens receded as the fire engines roared off into the distance>

Synonyms abate, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane

Related Words compress, condense, constrict, contract; evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish; slacken, slow (down); alleviate, relax; flag, sink, weaken; cave (in), collapse, deflate

Near Antonyms appear, emerge, show up; blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Antonyms accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax

2

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) <after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede>

Synonyms back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retire, withdraw

Related Words flee, fly; flinch, recoil, shrink; chicken (out); bow out; back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down; detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away; abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate

Near Antonyms beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave

Antonyms advance