alcove

noun

al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv How to pronounce alcove (audio)
1
a
: a small recessed section of a room : nook
b
: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche
2
alcoved adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tiffin's roof stands a foot higher and spills over the cab with a small storage alcove to create extra interior space. New Atlas, 9 June 2025 The path leads to a mid-sized village of 38 rooms set inside a rock alcove. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2025 The waters below our bungalow are crystal clear, and because our resort is basically in a shallow alcove, there aren’t any waves and most importantly, the water at its deepest is 3 ½ feet deep. Wayne Chan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2025 Hartford Courant This open alcove will house the optical network terminal (ONT) and the wireless router. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for alcove

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of alcove was in 1655

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alcove.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcove. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

alcove

noun
al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv How to pronounce alcove (audio)
1
: a small section of a room set back from the rest of it
2
: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche

More from Merriam-Webster on alcove

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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