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
Examples of recede in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the sound of sirens receded as the fire engines roared off into the distance
after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede
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Verb
Then the fireballs receded and the shadows reabsorbed the light.—Kian Tajbakhsh, The Atlantic, 27 June 2025 As the Cold War receded into history, fears of nuclear war abated.—Florence Gaub, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025 As federal supervision recedes, risk flows downstream.—Paul Davis, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025 The crew was stranded on the vessel until the morning of October 25, when water levels receded enough for another boat to rescue them.—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for recede
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Latin recedere to go back, from re- + cedere to go
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