recess

11 synonyms and 2 antonyms for recess, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A break from an activity or from regular proceedings, especially in a school, court, or legislature.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

break corner

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

pause niche inlet recession

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

intermission alcove adjourn respite deferral

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A break from an activity or from regular proceedings, especially in a school, court, or legislature.

“The kids ran outside for recess after lunch.”

break intermission pause alcove niche adjourn inlet corner recession respite deferral

2. noun

A hollow or indented space set back into a wall or surface.

“A small statue sat in a recess in the wall.”

Opposites

projection protrusion

3. verb

To suspend a meeting or proceeding temporarily.

“The judge recessed the court until the following morning.”

adjourn

How to use recess

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

school recess go into recess a recess in the wall

Etymology

From Latin recessus ("a withdrawing, a hidden or secluded spot"), from recedere ("to go back").

Full origin of recess →

Frequently asked questions

What does “recess” mean?

The word “recess” means a break from an activity or from regular proceedings, especially in a school, court, or legislature. In plain terms, a break in activity, or a hollow set into a wall.

How do you pronounce “recess”?

“Recess” is pronounced rih-SEHS (/ˈɹiˌsɛs/ in IPA).

How do you use “recess” in a sentence?

Here is “recess” used in a sentence: “The kids ran outside for recess after lunch.”

What part of speech is “recess”?

Depending on how it is used, “recess” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “recess” come from?

The word “recess” comes from Latin. From Latin recessus ("a withdrawing, a hidden or secluded spot"), from recedere ("to go back").

Is “recess” a common word?

“Recess” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “recess” have?

“Recess” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a break from an activity or from regular proceedings, especially in a school, court, or legislature.

People also searched

break corner pause recession projection niche inlet respite protrusion deferral intermission alcove

Nearby words

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