recede

1 of 2

verb (1)

re·​cede ri-ˈsēd 

receded; receding

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move back or away : withdraw

a receding hairline

b

: to slant backward

2

: to grow less or smaller : diminish, decrease

a receding deficit

recede

2 of 2

verb (2)

re·​cede (ˌ)rē-ˈsēd 

receded; receding; recedes

transitive verb

: to cede back to a former possessor

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• abate
• de-escalate
• decline
• decrease
• die (away or down or out)
• diminish
• drain (away)
• drop (off)
• dwindle
• ease
• ebb
• fall
• fall away
• lessen
• let up
• lower
• moderate
• pall
• phase down
• ratchet (down)
• rachet (down)
• relent
• remit
• shrink
• subside
• taper
• taper off
• wane

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Fatal opioid overdoses in the state have finally receded from record highs, with around 6,700 deaths recorded in the first half of 2024 — a roughly 16% drop from 2023’s peak. —Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025

As World War II recedes further into the past, the task of tracking down next of kin and other information about U.S. forces is becoming tougher for volunteers like Holloman. —Blane Bachelor, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2025

Joe Biden enjoyed a similar rebound after 40-year-high inflation receded. —Jim Sergent, USA Today, 1 May 2025

The deal set off alarm bells in Washington, fresh off a victory lap after coercing Panama into abandoning China’s Belt and Road Initiative, that Beijing’s influence in Latin America isn’t receding. —Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

re- + cede

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1771, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for recede

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• concede
• decreed
• duckweed
• exceed
• flaxseed
• impede

Kids Definition

recede

verb

re·​cede

ri-ˈsēd

receded; receding

1

a

: to move back or away

the flood waters receded

b

: to slant backward

a receding forehead

2

: to grow less or smaller

a receding debt