recess

American  

[ri-ses, ree-ses] / rɪˈsɛs, ˈri sɛs /

noun

recesses plural

1. temporary withdrawal or cessation from the usual work or activity.

   Synonyms:

   vacation, break, rest, respite

2. a period of such withdrawal.

3. a receding part or space, as a bay or alcove in a room.

4. an indentation in a line or extent of coast, hills, forest, etc.

5. recesses, a secluded or inner area or part.

   in the recesses of the palace.

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verb (used with object)

recesses, present (3rd person singular) recessed, past participle, past recessing present participle

1. to place or set in a recess.

2. to set or form as or like a recess; make a recess or recesses in.

   to recess a wall.

3. to suspend or defer for a recess.

   to recess the Senate.

verb (used without object)

recesses, present (3rd person singular) recessed, past participle, past recessing present participle

1. to take a recess.

recess British  

noun

1. a space, such as a niche or alcove, set back or indented

2. (often plural) a secluded or secret place

   recesses of the mind

3. a cessation of business, such as the closure of Parliament during a vacation

4. anatomy a small cavity or depression in a bodily organ, part, or structure

5. a break between classes at a school

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verb

1. (tr) to place or set (something) in a recess

2. (tr) to build a recess or recesses in (a wall, building, etc)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonrecess
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• recesses
  plural

Participles

• recessing
  present
• recessed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• recess
  simple
• recesses
  simple
• have recessed
  perfect
• has recessed
  perfect
• am recessing
  progressive
• are recessing
  progressive
• is recessing
  progressive
• have been recessing
  perfect progressive
• has been recessing
  perfect progressive

Past

• recessed
  simple
• had recessed
  perfect
• was recessing
  progressive
• were recessing
  progressive
• had been recessing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will recess
  simple
• will have recessed
  perfect
• will be recessing
  progressive
• will have been recessing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of recess

1510–20; < Latin recessus a withdrawal, receding part, equivalent to recēd ( ere ) to recede ¹ + -tus suffix of v. action, with dt > ss

Explanation

Recess is a break from doing something, like work or school. Almost everyone looks forward to taking a recess — even if you don't have access to monkey bars. Recess comes from the Latin word recessus, meaning "a going back, retreat." You may have heard children talking about recess as their favorite part of school. This meaning of the word refers to the break in a school day for children to play, usually outside in a playground. As a verb, recess means to take a break at the end of a session — usually in a court proceeding: "The judge announced the court would recess until the following day."

Example Sentences

Congress is about halfway through its Endless Summer Recess.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2023

They then have a decent run of unbroken legislating, with eight weeks from their return on 5 June to the start of the Summer Recess at the close of business on 26 July.

From BBC • May 19, 2023

Recess should not be viewed as a privilege or an optional part of the day.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2023

He also helped foster his wife’s cycling company, Recess, that they had been growing from their new North Carolina home.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2022

Recess I hate because everyone screams and runs around crazy and grabs you and pushes you and you have absolutely no idea what will happen next.

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine

Related Words

• closure
• hiatus
• holiday
• layoff
• lull
• pause
• respite
• suspension
• time-out
• vacation