recess 1 of 2

Definition of recessnext
1
as in alcove
a hollowed-out space in a wall the curator placed the large vase in one of the recesses of the gallery wall

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2
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended the couple goes to Florida every January for a month-long recess from the rigors of winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

recess

2 of 2

verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of recess
Noun
Then on April 10, when the garden club usually meets on Fridays at recess, the students got to work with Uplift staff planting plants provided by the property management company. Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026 Here’s a look at the coming debate as Republicans hope to pass a bill before leaving for their August recess. Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2026
Verb
The House briefly recessed but returned one hour later to approve the map. Miami Herald, 16 May 2026 The curved and recessed arms are comfortable and add softness to the design, and the seat and back are padded with thick foam that’s supportive and won’t crush with use. Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recess
Noun
  • The sleeping alcove offers more privacy than the typical studio due to floor-to-ceiling built-ins.
    Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 June 2026
  • The main 64 x 80-in (163 x 203-cm) super-queen bed is located up in the alcove, which is all but encased in glass thanks to its two large side windows and the skylight above.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • His company helps travelers book luxury vacation rentals in Turks and Caicos.
    Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
  • Discover verified Agoda coupons and discount codes to save on hotels, flights, and vacation packages.
    Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • Anthropic, one of OpenAI’s top competitors, has proposed mechanisms for coordinating pauses on advanced AI development if systems become too powerful.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 June 2026
  • Located in the city's dynamic tech district, Whitefield, The Den Bengaluru seamlessly bridges heritage and innovation, offering an environment where guests can move seamlessly between focused work, casual connection, and moments of pause.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • Fox hit big shots late as the Spurs avoided falling into a 3-0 hole, which no NBA team has escaped.
    Brian Mahoney, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
  • Whenever your outfit feels a little plain, these goodies will inject some welcome personality—all without blowing a hole in your budget.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • At the time, OpenAI indefinitely suspended FoloToy’s developer access.
    Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
  • Ohio, one of the nation’s data center destination hot spots, is suspending a tax break that has been critical to its competition with other states to attract the massive new facilities that power and train artificial intelligence chatbots.
    Marc Levy, Fortune, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Then, there are the aforementioned films — a holiday comedy and horror comedy, which are slated for 2027 and 2028, respectively.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 June 2026
  • Walking holidays are surging across Europe and North America as travelers swap rushed city-hopping for slower, scenic routes — and the inn-to-inn walking tour has emerged as one of the most popular ways to do it.
    Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • The government still remains optimistic that the livestock lull is temporary.
    Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 4 June 2026
  • Lucia Cheng After an afternoon lull, more voters are stopping by to cast their ballots in Des Moines' Precinct 40, located at Central Presbyterian Church.
    Cooper Worth, Des Moines Register, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Unlike standard carbon filters, these molecular cages force PFAS molecules to clump together inside a cavity, achieving a 98 percent removal rate.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
  • The bees will form a temporary cluster, hanging out while scouts search the surrounding area for a more permanent home in hollow spaces like tree cavities or, occasionally, the walls of a home.
    Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Recess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recess. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

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