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

The sleeping alcove can fit a full bed, and there’s a dressing area next to one of the apartment’s two closets. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 20 July 2026

Unlike most toppers, which include a cabover alcove, the Wingman collapses down to a basic box for travel. — New Atlas, 15 July 2026

Ours was a 430-square-foot Sapphire Suite, with a walk-in closet, couch, dining table, an alcove with a queen-size bed, and a big marble bathroom with double sinks and a large shower. — Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

This space houses a stone alcove bed, additional sleeping space, a generous kitchen, and a beautiful bathroom of stone and cocciopesto. — Lucrezia Worthington, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 June 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