recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space.
the flood waters gradually receded
retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached.
retreating soldiers
retract implies drawing back from an extended position.
a cat retracting its claws
back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion.
backed off on the throttle
Examples of recede in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the sound of sirens receded as the fire engines roared off into the distance
after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
But as the water recedes, ancient artifacts are emerging from the lake bottom.—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 18 June 2024 Oakland saw a devastating spike in crime during the pandemic that has slowly begun to recede: total citywide crime was down 33% as of Sunday from year-to-date statistics in 2023.—Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 18 June 2024
Verb
Lush vegetation has grown up in the decades since Muir glacier melted and receded.—Lesley Evans Ogden, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2023 Majed al-Sorour, a LIV board member, was seen as central to LIV’s operations before his profile receded recently for reasons that have not been made public.—Guilbert Gates, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2023 See all Example Sentences for recede
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recede.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Middle English, from Latin recedere to go back, from re- + cedere to go
Share