adjective
C2
Proficient
recumbent
reh-KUM-buhnt
Recumbent (adjective) means lying down or reclining. Example: “The cat lay recumbent on the warm windowsill all afternoon.”
adjective
1
Lying down or reclining.
"The cat lay recumbent on the warm windowsill all afternoon."
"He photographed the recumbent statue in the old cathedral."
"She stayed recumbent on the sofa, nursing a headache."
noun
1
A bicycle or tricycle ridden from a reclined, laid-back seating position.
"He commutes to work on a recumbent instead of an upright bike."
"Recumbents are lower to the ground, which some riders find more comfortable."
How to use recumbent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes lying down or reclining, rather than sitting or standing upright.
When to use it
A fairly formal word, more common in descriptive or technical writing than casual speech.
Memory tip
Link it to 'recline' to remember that recumbent means lying back rather than standing.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a recumbent position
lying recumbent
a recumbent bicycle
a recumbent figure
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The cat lay _____ on the warm windowsill all afternoon.
Etymology
Recumbent comes from Latin, from the present participle of a verb meaning 'to recline'.
Synonyms
View more →
recumbent bicycle
decumbent
accumbent
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for recumbent
See all rhymes for recumbent →Frequently asked questions
What does recumbent mean?
It describes someone or something lying down or reclining.
What is a recumbent bike?
It is a bicycle built so the rider sits in a reclined, laid-back position rather than an upright one.
Is recumbent used to describe people or only objects?
It can describe either, such as a recumbent person resting or a recumbent statue or figure.
What is the meaning of recumbent?
"recumbent" (adjective) means lying down or reclining.
