How does the adjective recumbent differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of recumbent are prone, prostrate, and supine. While all these words mean "lying down," recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting.
a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed
When might prone be a better fit than recumbent?
While the synonyms prone and recumbent are close in meaning, prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface.
push-ups require a prone position
In what contexts can prostrate take the place of recumbent?
The words prostrate and recumbent can be used in similar contexts, but prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse.
a runner fell prostrate at the finish line
Where would supine be a reasonable alternative to recumbent?
The words supine and recumbent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness.
lying supine on the couch
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of recumbentThe recumbent chair and whining drill, the blinding lights and masked faces overhead, the needle, the spit basin, and the X-ray film clamped between your teeth—every detail seems designed to inflame our fears.—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025 Plus, recumbent bikes are the better choice for folks recovering from an injury.—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 1 July 2025 Horses need at least 30 minutes of recumbent sleep each day to fulfill REM requirements.—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025 Among the cyclists on the trail Tuesday was Larry Matthews, 72, of Sardis in Saline County who had brought his recumbent trike to ride.—Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recumbent
Sympodial orchids, such as Oncidium and Cattleya, grow from a horizontal rhizome that produces pseudobulbs, which store nutrients and water for the plant and can eventually produce their own flower spikes.
During periods of intense rainfall, the risk of flooding increases, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
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NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
Some experts, meanwhile, say that instead of demanding that insurers sell their stake in fossil fuel companies, advocates and policymakers should focus on modernizing regulations to persuade insurers to expand coverage in fire-prone areas.
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