recede

play

verb re·cede \ri-ˈsēd\

Definition of recede

receded

;

receding

intransitive verb
1a : to move back or away : withdraw a receding hairlineb : to slant backward
2 : to grow less or smaller : diminish, decrease a receding deficit

Recent Examples of recede from the Web

The swift waters gushed for about 10 minutes before receding in the narrow canyon, Hornung said.

— CBS News, "Witnesses recount horrific flash flood that killed 5 kids, 4 adults," 17 July 2017
The clothes themselves — sharp anoraks, three-quarter raincoats, and roomy cropped trousers — receded.

— vincent boucher, The Cut, "What We Saw at the New York’s Menswear Shows This Week," 14 July 2017
One proposal involves feeding brine from the desalination plant into the Dead Sea in a bid to replenish its receding waters, though environmentalists question the feasibility of such a move.

— Washington Post, "Trump envoy helps broker Israeli-Palestinian water deal," 13 July 2017
At the drive-in, life does not recede when the movie begins.

— Popular Mechanics, "You Can Make Your Own Backyard Movie Theater," 4 July 2017
While the numbness receded within a day and my hearing was fully restored, my doctors were concerned.

— laura kiesel, SELF, "I Depend on Medicaid to Survive, but Congress Wants to Take It Away," 29 June 2017
Both California fires came amid soaring temperatures and dry air that are supposed to start receding early Tuesday.

— Washington Post, "Utah wildfire grows as 2 powerful California blazes spread," 27 June 2017
The early-2000s assessments were based on a Russia reset, the tide of wars receding, and China as a responsible stakeholder; none of those three planning parameters hold.

— kori schake, The Atlantic, "America's Military: Overcommitted and Underfunded," 26 June 2017
And in Ole Mandeville, the waters had finally receded from Lakeshore Drive.

— bob warren, NOLA.com, "St. Tammany begins cleanup from Tropical Storm Cindy," 23 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'recede'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of recede

Middle English, from Latin recedere to go back, from re- + cedere to go

NEW!

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of recede

recede, retreat, retract, back mean to move backward. recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space. the flood waters gradually receded retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached. retreating soldiers retract implies drawing back from an extended position. a cat retracting its claws back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion. backed off on the throttle

recede

play

verb re·cede \(ˌ)rē-ˈsēd\

Definition of recede

transitive verb
: to cede back to a former possessor

Recent Examples of recede from the Web

The swift waters gushed for about 10 minutes before receding in the narrow canyon, Hornung said.

— CBS News, "Witnesses recount horrific flash flood that killed 5 kids, 4 adults," 17 July 2017
The clothes themselves — sharp anoraks, three-quarter raincoats, and roomy cropped trousers — receded.

— vincent boucher, The Cut, "What We Saw at the New York’s Menswear Shows This Week," 14 July 2017
One proposal involves feeding brine from the desalination plant into the Dead Sea in a bid to replenish its receding waters, though environmentalists question the feasibility of such a move.

— Washington Post, "Trump envoy helps broker Israeli-Palestinian water deal," 13 July 2017
At the drive-in, life does not recede when the movie begins.

— Popular Mechanics, "You Can Make Your Own Backyard Movie Theater," 4 July 2017
While the numbness receded within a day and my hearing was fully restored, my doctors were concerned.

— laura kiesel, SELF, "I Depend on Medicaid to Survive, but Congress Wants to Take It Away," 29 June 2017
Both California fires came amid soaring temperatures and dry air that are supposed to start receding early Tuesday.

— Washington Post, "Utah wildfire grows as 2 powerful California blazes spread," 27 June 2017
The early-2000s assessments were based on a Russia reset, the tide of wars receding, and China as a responsible stakeholder; none of those three planning parameters hold.

— kori schake, The Atlantic, "America's Military: Overcommitted and Underfunded," 26 June 2017
And in Ole Mandeville, the waters had finally receded from Lakeshore Drive.

— bob warren, NOLA.com, "St. Tammany begins cleanup from Tropical Storm Cindy," 23 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of recede

re- + cede

NEW!

First Known Use: 1771

See Words from the same year

RECEDE Defined for Kids

recede

play

verb re·cede \ri-ˈsēd\

Definition of recede for Students

receded

;

receding

1 : to move back or away Floodwaters are receding.
2 : to become smaller or weaker … I heard … footsteps receding. — Avi, Crispin

Word Root of recede

The Latin word cedere, meaning “to go,” gives us the root ced. Words from the Latin cedere have something to do with going. To precede is to go before. To exceed is to go beyond a limit. To proceed is to go forward. To recede is to go back or away.