1
: the action of receding : recession entry 1
2
: a hidden, secret, or secluded place or part
3
a
: indentation, cleft
a deep recess in the hill
b
: alcove
a recess lined with books
4
: a suspension of business or procedure often for rest or relaxation
children playing at recess
recessed; recessing; recesses
1
: to put into a recess
recessed lighting
2
: to make a recess in
3
: to interrupt for a recess
: to take a recess
Synonyms
Examples of recess in a Sentence
Noun
The students play outside after lunch and at recess.
Do you have morning recess?
The Senate debates will continue after the August recess.
The Senate wanted to vote on the bill before recess.
Verb
The trial recessed for the holidays.
The judge decided to recess the trial for the holidays.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Jackson, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
Recently, elementary students were outside during recess when the sight of billowing parachutes in the sky startled them.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
But in a sign of just how resistant to change Capitol Hill can be, the final spending package sailed through Congress less than 48 hours after it was unveiled, with lawmakers eager to leave town for a two-week recess.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
The 40/40 Club may fade into the recesses of Carter’s illustrious history, a footnote in the forensic accounting of his fortune.
—Abe Beame, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
So how did New York City and surrounding areas—which sit in the middle of the North American Plate and thousands of miles away from its edge—just feel an earthquake powerful enough to shake skyscrapers and bring recess inside at local schools?
—Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Congress left town for a two-week recess, after passing a bipartisan bill that keeps the government open, but without passing aid for Ukraine.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
And lawmakers are in the midst of a two-week recess in their home districts.
—Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The Georgia Republican filed a motion to vacate the chair before recess, placing intense pressure on Johnson.
—Sarah Beth Hensley, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
When asked about other examples that could inform this project, Larson pointed to two:
Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas, which the city’s parks department describes as a 5.2-acre urban green space built over the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024
There’s no disputing the warm glow that recessed lighting provides.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
How can Congress recess and avoid addressing the most significant geopolitical situation since 1939?
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024
These pads are slightly recessed and surround by insulator.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Feb. 2024
Like on all Mazda vehicles, the navigation screen is recessed, resulting in an unattached feel.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2024
The House was scheduled to remain in Washington until Friday and will recess until Tuesday.
—Marianna Sotomayor, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
The Senate is expected to recess on Thursday and return Jan. 9.
—Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2023
Noun
Also: The hush money trial is scheduled to be in recess on Wednesdays, giving the court a chance to deal with other matters and Trump a chance to campaign.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
Recently, elementary students were outside during recess when the sight of billowing parachutes in the sky startled them.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
But in a sign of just how resistant to change Capitol Hill can be, the final spending package sailed through Congress less than 48 hours after it was unveiled, with lawmakers eager to leave town for a two-week recess.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
The 40/40 Club may fade into the recesses of Carter’s illustrious history, a footnote in the forensic accounting of his fortune.
—Abe Beame, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
So how did New York City and surrounding areas—which sit in the middle of the North American Plate and thousands of miles away from its edge—just feel an earthquake powerful enough to shake skyscrapers and bring recess inside at local schools?
—Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Congress left town for a two-week recess, after passing a bipartisan bill that keeps the government open, but without passing aid for Ukraine.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
And lawmakers are in the midst of a two-week recess in their home districts.
—Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The Georgia Republican filed a motion to vacate the chair before recess, placing intense pressure on Johnson.
—Sarah Beth Hensley, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
Once the back of the baffle and recessed housing are clean and thoroughly dry, pop the baffle back into place.
—USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024
When asked about other examples that could inform this project, Larson pointed to two:
Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas, which the city’s parks department describes as a 5.2-acre urban green space built over the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024
There’s no disputing the warm glow that recessed lighting provides.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024
How can Congress recess and avoid addressing the most significant geopolitical situation since 1939?
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024
These pads are slightly recessed and surround by insulator.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Feb. 2024
Like on all Mazda vehicles, the navigation screen is recessed, resulting in an unattached feel.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2024
The House was scheduled to remain in Washington until Friday and will recess until Tuesday.
—Marianna Sotomayor, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024
The Senate is expected to recess on Thursday and return Jan. 9.
—Jamie Joseph, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recess.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near recess
Cite this Entry
“Recess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recess. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
recess
1 of 2 noun
re·cess
ˈrē-ˌses 
ri-ˈses
1
: a hidden or secret place
2
a
: a space or little hollow set back (as from the main line of a coast or mountain range)
b
3
: a brief period for relaxation between periods of work
recess
2 of 2 verb1
: to put into a recess
recessed lighting
2
: to make a recess in
3
: to interrupt for or take a recess
Legal Definition
recess
noun
re·cess
ˈrē-ˌses, ri-ˈses
: a temporary adjournment of a trial, hearing, or legislative session
recess
verb
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