recess 1 of 2

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
Katz told Newsweek the bill has now been drafted and will be introduced when the Assembly's recess ends next month. Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025 Yousafzai, a celebrated education activist and the youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize after surviving a Taliban assassination attempt as a teen, says the project's name was born from their desire to reimagine school recess time for girls. Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
The first story has recessed walls with a walkway. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 25 Aug. 2025 Designers minimized its radar cross-section by enclosing antennas inside masts, recessing equipment, and reshaping the anchor pocket. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recess
Noun
  • The space features fragrant evergreen boughs, which Rucci said are supposed to give the illusion of the Northwoods creeping into the alcove.
    Angelika Ytuarte, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Princess Diana and the Duchess of York once turned up at the club dressed as policewomen and many romantic relationships were sealed in the dark alcoves, although the tabloids rarely, if ever, found out.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The real passengers on the ship were not particularly delighted to have large camera cables and lights and people disrupting their vacations.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
  • That vacation scrapbook photo or family snap buried in your camera roll might now get a second life.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • If the pause continues, Forgotten Harvest will extensively fundraise.
    Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Congress signed into law a divest-or-ban order during the Biden administration, but Trump—whose Justice Department must enforce a ban—issued, then repeatedly extended, an enforcement pause in the interest of coming to terms about divestiture.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The lore behind one of Louisville's favorite hole in the wall restaurants begins with a gift.
    Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Although the brain itself has no pain receptors, Bacon was given local anesthetic to numb her scalp and skull, as doctors made holes half the size of a small coin in her skull and implanted the stimulating electrodes inside.
    Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Elmahdi is being charged with operating while intoxicated with passengers under 16 years of age, possession of THC, reckless driving endangering safety, operating while suspended, operating without insurance and a child safety restraint violation.
    Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Trump didn’t commit to suspending the tariff hikes, nor raised any conditions during their talks, Lula said.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Doss added that with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, customers are buying items in advance.
    Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Just in time for holiday shopping, Wayfair brought back its biggest sales event for three days only.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • However, an early burst of winter storms was expected, with a lull of snow in the mid-winter season, then a resurgence in the late months of winter.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 21 Oct. 2025
  • For instance, why did the offense experience so many extended lulls against opposing bullpens (even as, in another contradiction, its overall performance against bullpens was in line with 2024)?
    Will Sammon, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Plants to Always Leave Standing The dry stems of certain native perennials offer excellent nesting habitats for around 25% of native bee species that utilize cavity nesting.
    Benjamin Vogt, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Her entire stomach had pushed into her chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm, a muscle that divides the torso, and was wrapped around itself.
    CalMatters, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Recess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recess. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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