recline

verb

re·​cline ri-ˈklīn 

reclined; reclining

transitive verb

: to cause or permit to incline backwards

intransitive verb

1

: to lean or incline backwards

2

: repose, lie

Examples of recline in a Sentence

She was reclining on the sofa, watching TV.

The theater has reclining seats.

He reclined his seat so that he could nap more comfortably.

Recent Examples on the Web

It can be reclined to multiple positions and can be folded. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025

The performance glided to a close with all seven men reclining on one elbow on the stage before popping up for a last run of perfectly synched choreo and a final straight line pose to soak up the adulation. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2025

One of the movie’s scenes — startling for its frankness but also its visual beauty — finds the men reclined in the dark of the mine. —The New York Times, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

In an adjoining nook, the velvet banquettes had been lined with crimson and burgundy petals—making for a perfect photo backdrop to recline against. —Freya Drohan, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French recliner, from Latin reclinare, from re- + clinare to bend — more at lean

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for recline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• byline
• canine

Kids Definition

recline

verb

re·​cline ri-ˈklīn 

reclined; reclining

1

: to lean or cause to lean backwards

2

: repose entry 1 sense 2, lie

reclining on the sofa