recede

¹ American  

[ri-seed] / rɪˈsid /

verb (used without object)

receded, receding

1. to go or move away; retreat; go to or toward a more distant point; withdraw.

2. to become more distant.

3. (of a color, form, etc., on a flat surface) to move away or be perceived as moving away from an observer, especially as giving the illusion of space.

4. to slope backward.

   a chin that recedes.

5. to draw back or withdraw from a conclusion, viewpoint, undertaking, promise, etc.

   Synonyms:

   retreat, retire

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recede ² American  

[ree-seed] / riˈsid /

verb (used with object)

receded, receding

1. to cede back; yield or grant to a former possessor.

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recede British  

/ rɪˈsiːd /

verb

1. to withdraw from a point or limit; go back

   the tide receded

2. to become more distant

   hopes of rescue receded

3. to slope backwards

   apes have receding foreheads

4. 1. (of a man's hair) to cease to grow at the temples and above the forehead

   2. (of a man) to start to go bald in this way

5. to decline in value or character

6. (usually foll by from) to draw back or retreat, as from a promise

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Etymology

Origin of recede¹

First recorded in 1470–80; from Latin recēdere “to go back, fall back”; equivalent to re- + cede

Origin of recede²

First recorded in 1765–75; re- + cede

Explanation

Recede means to pull back, retreat, or become faint or distant. Flood waters recede, as do glaciers, and even abstractions like "panic" and "hope." Think "receding hairline." (That means bald.) Cede means "to yield." Politicians, after losing an election will "cede the field" or "concede the race." Recede means to yield back. Over time, this word has taken on the sense of fading or growing faint, as in "The ghostly vision of a woman receded into the fog."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

recede receded receding

In an expanding universe, more distant galaxies generally recede more quickly because a greater amount of space lies between them and us.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026

A surge in U.S. inflation to a three-year high has begun to recede, but life isn’t going to get more affordable for Americans anytime soon.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026

Among conventional government bonds, Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management likes two-year to five-year maturities on expectations that global rate-hike forecasts will recede further.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Japan could also be a beneficiary if oil prices recede.

From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026

Then, deep breath by deep breath, the rage started to recede.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

"What I saw at the shoreline was that the water receded. After a while, I saw it... slowly returning. And then it receded again. Maybe three or four times," Butil said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026

While immigration sweeps have receded from the headlines, Garcia Venegas’ most recent incident highlights how the mistaken detention of Americans has continued despite congressional inquiries and denials by senior immigration officials.

From Salon ● May 24, 2026

At home, the Declaration receded from view as attention focused on the struggle to win independence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

The issue has receded somewhat since 2025, for much of which China and the US seemed on the verge of a trade war.

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

A few blocks away, the water receded rapidly, building into a massive wave —a towering wall of water and wind and rain that swallowed buildings and palm trees and electric poles as it advanced.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

The point at which galaxies begin receding faster than light is called the Hubble distance.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026

Deep green hills covered in dense trees rise in the background, receding into the far distance — representing the many ways that wild land seems to thrive in this vast urban space.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

You may have a hard time believing that the gold-platinum ratio is falling because geopolitical risk is receding.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 17, 2026

Gold’s retreat could be a sign that the fear trade may already be partly receding.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026

Then the sounds and smells were receding into the distance, the thudding of the footsteps diminished.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

Related Words

• abate
• decrease
• diminish
• dwindle
• ebb
• fade
• fall back
• lessen
• reduce
• retreat
• shrink
• sink
• subside
• taper
• wane