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

Surveillance video showed the rabbi being shoved into the alcove of building and choked. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

The few survivors included the king and the local archbishop, who had been seated above floor level in a stone alcove. — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 21 May 2026

The sleeping alcove offers more privacy than the typical studio due to floor-to-ceiling built-ins. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 June 2026

Step inside the home’s domed walls to discover charm and coziness around every turn, from an alcove sofa to a wood-burning fireplace. — Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 18 May 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