verb
recede
rih-SEED
verb
1
To move gradually back or away from a previous position.
"The floodwaters began to recede after two days."
"His hairline started receding in his late twenties."
How to Use Recede
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGradually moving back, shrinking away, or fading.
Common pairings
receding hairline
the tide recedes
fear receded
Word Forms
receded past tense, recedes singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “recede”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The floodwaters began to _____ after two days.
Etymology
From Middle French receder and Latin recedere ("to withdraw"), from re- plus cedere ("to go").