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Which of these grows at about the same rate that the Moon recedes from Earth?

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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

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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 Newport Beach, there was a sigh of relief as the high tide began to recede Sunday..

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

In Fitch’s scenario, you can imagine that inflation might recede, or that Treasurys might be a haven.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026

Long Beach officials said they continue to work to fortify the sand berms and seawall that remain, and are checking drains to ensure any flooding can quickly recede.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

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

He didn't see the moonlight reappear, then recede, then reappear.

From "Son" by Lois Lowry

It receded into the background of everything else during the pandemic, but I never forgot about the issue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

A week after the floodwaters receded, Angelenos started circulating petitions that would recall the corrupt Shaw from office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

In recent weeks, many of those worries have receded.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026

That possibility has receded for now, with Verstappen's new contract with Red Bull.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

I take a look into the bathtub and realize that the water line has really receded since Saturday.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

In a briefing on Monday, government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises said floods were receding, but "some areas in Bangkok are still facing high water levels".

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

By studying these events at different distances, the researchers found that more distant objects appeared to be receding faster.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026

Every portrait depicts a pale woman with a sharp nose, bow lips, slightly receding chin, and dark eyes with a pink lacrimal caruncle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

It’s true: I live surrounded by people who keep receding into the music of the past.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Red circles opened out before them, receding into an endless blackness.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya

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Related Words

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

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