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

Other behaviors that commonly cause altercations during flights include shouting, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, and reclining your seat without consideration for the person sitting behind. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

In another scene, the French sculptor’s reclining figure of La Jeune Fille Allongée became a sculptural beachgoer with the addition of a pristine cotton parasol. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025

Inside the car, the rear bench has been ripped out so that reclining sport-style seats with Pepita inserts could be installed. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025

Once inside, the user reclines into the tub’s plush, contoured interior, and the door seals shut. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 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