alcove

noun

al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv 

1

a

: a small recessed section of a room : nook

b

: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche

2

: summerhouse sense 2

alcoved

ˈal-ˌkōvd 

adjective

Synonyms of alcove

• pavilion

Examples of alcove in a Sentence

a small alcove in one corner of the backyard garden

an ancient vase in an alcove and a sculpture of Achilles on a stand in the museum's Greek Hall

Recent Examples on the Web

Tucked beneath the second-floor mezzanine, a series of alcoves became larger-than-life photo sets, with photographers on hand to capture guests in action. — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026

Honey-blond parquet floors cover the nearly 300-square-foot common area, which has north-facing skyline views plus a bit of light from the west-facing dining alcove where the second bedroom once was. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 2 Nov. 2026

While an alcove over the truck roof often serves as part of a pop-up sleeper roof, the version on the X canopy houses an interior storage cubby designed to hold slim gear like an outdoor table and chair set. — New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

Alhambra brings those healing qualities and fresh fragrance into the Cube Spa, which features a seawater pool, two saunas, an ice alcove, and multiple treatment rooms. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French alcôve, from Spanish alcoba, from Arabic al-qubba the arch

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for alcove

• mangrove
• cove
• drove
• rove
• shrove
• stove
• strove
• throve
• trove
• wove

Kids Definition

alcove

noun

al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv 

1

: a small section of a room set back from the rest of it

2

: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche