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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

A central bank need not raise rates in response to such shocks, confident that as they recede, inflation will ease on its own.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Economists and industry analysts say that even after oil starts flowing again from the Middle East, it could take a while for the Iran war’s effects on consumer prices to recede.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 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

“And this is after—” The lights start to recede, the patches shrinking like puddles of water drying in the sun.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

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

But then the number fell from 2010 until 2022, as the Great Recession’s impact gradually receded.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

The day before, the water had receded, as he had expected it to, but now it had returned, far stronger.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

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

Since the Moon is receding from Earth at roughly 3.8 centimeters a year, millions of years from now it will appear too small to produce the phenomenon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 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

Now he is left to clear up the mess and build bridges, amid claims support for his re-election as Fifa president in March is receding.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

We were forced deeper and deeper underwater, the devastating roaring receding into a dull, faraway drone.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

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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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