1
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
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
the judge called for a brief recess so that the witness could regain her composure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hole
a sunken area forming a separate space
decided to camp in a sandy recess where the beach met the forest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to suspend
to bring to a formal close for a period of time
the judge recessed the court for lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of recess
Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Students in the transitional grade still attend lunch, recess and specials with other first-grade students, which Bogart said helps sell parents on the idea.
—Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 6 Feb. 2026
Comer left the House Rules Committee, which briefly recessed for floor votes Monday, questioning the Clintons' agreement.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recess
Noun
He was stuck deep in the recesses of shock and grief at the loss of the boy who’d labored by his side for so long, a boy who’d never harmed anyone and who had sat behind the wheel of that silver Saab from sunrise to sundown for the family.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Students in the transitional grade still attend lunch, recess and specials with other first-grade students, which Bogart said helps sell parents on the idea.
—Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoman, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
Architectural Accents Many homes, especially older ones, feature unique nooks, corners, and recessed portions of walls.
—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 6 Feb. 2026
Comer left the House Rules Committee, which briefly recessed for floor votes Monday, questioning the Clintons' agreement.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recess
Noun
-
In both cases, tub sizes will differ from those of a traditional alcove tub.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Mar. 2026
-
On the same floor, Tea Lounge Kafu is a serene tearoom overlooking the bamboo atrium, with seasonally changing scroll art in its tokonoma alcove.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If the dress code calls for true beachy or vacation attire, the Jaylah Strapless Midi Dress from Lulus looks like a wavy, ocean-like print that will blend in perfectly on the shore.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But even in a semi-collapsed state, people want family and children and vacations, and so Caroline somewhat reluctantly joins Adam and a cohort of others on Haven.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As the road flows into Missouri, plan a leg-stretching pause at Meramec Caverns in the leafy Ozarks.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Denver’s mayor has already instituted a similar pause.—
Eric Schmidt,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Congress and the White House are digging a deep, deep hole for our children.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Video from the scene showed multiple bullet holes in a car windshield.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 2021 edition was suspended because of COVID-19.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Last year, the financial center was forced to suspend companies linked to Iranian oil trader Hossein Shamkhani after a Bloomberg story exposed the network.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
January’s stronger-than-expected total was likely buoyed by some one-time factors (notably, weaker holiday hiring that meant fewer post-holiday layoffs, and unseasonably warm weather in the early part of the month that boosted industries like construction).—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
This figure was adjusted to account for the seasonal sales slowdown during the two-week Chinese New Year holiday, which took place mid-February.—
Matthew Chin,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Both teams had early goals before the game hit a scoring lull.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
So many terrible things happen that the reader develops a kind of flinch, bracing for the next calamity whenever there is a brief lull in the misery.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The surfaces are marked by cavities, which are leftover bubbles that happened when the superhot material was being pummeled through the atmosphere — much like with lava, a press release noted.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Fibroids that bulge into the uterine cavity—called submucosal fibroids—are often associated with the most significant bleeding changes, regardless of size.—
Beth Krietsch,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recess. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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