1
: the action of receding : recession entry 1
2
: a hidden, secret, or secluded place or part
3
a
: indentation, cleft
a deep recess in the hill
b
: alcove
a recess lined with books
4
: a suspension of business or procedure often for rest or relaxation
children playing at recess
recessed; recessing; recesses
1
: to put into a recess
recessed lighting
2
: to make a recess in
3
: to interrupt for a recess
: to take a recess
Examples of recess in a Sentence
Noun
The students play outside after lunch and at recess.
Do you have morning recess?
The Senate debates will continue after the August recess.
The Senate wanted to vote on the bill before recess.
Verb
The trial recessed for the holidays.
The judge decided to recess the trial for the holidays.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah McCoy, Hartford Courant, 18 May 2025
The sudden recess came just as Combs' attorneys were showing the court explicit emails and texts between her and Combs from 2009.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 15 May 2025
Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2025
Porch lights are recessed into doorways and point down; the pier has LED lights, also pointing downward, that provide just enough illumination for marine safety; a shop’s outdoor motion-sensor lights come on only for a few minutes when needed.
—Nicholas J. R. White Kat Hill, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recess
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Noun
When the impact of the air pollution led to asthma and hives and children not being able to go out to recess, remediation is no longer limited to the land and water.
—Sarah McCoy, Hartford Courant, 18 May 2025
The sudden recess came just as Combs' attorneys were showing the court explicit emails and texts between her and Combs from 2009.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 15 May 2025
Verb
Some Republicans outside the House walls and familiar with the dramatics scoffed at leadership’s decision to recess early.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2025
Porch lights are recessed into doorways and point down; the pier has LED lights, also pointing downward, that provide just enough illumination for marine safety; a shop’s outdoor motion-sensor lights come on only for a few minutes when needed.
—Nicholas J. R. White Kat Hill, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recess
Cite this Entry
“Recess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recess. Accessed 26 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
recess
1 of 2 noun
re·cess
ˈrē-ˌses 
ri-ˈses
1
: a hidden or secret place
2
a
: a space or little hollow set back (as from the main line of a coast or mountain range)
b
3
: a brief period for relaxation between periods of work
recess
2 of 2 verb1
: to put into a recess
recessed lighting
2
: to make a recess in
3
: to interrupt for or take a recess
Legal Definition
recess
noun
re·cess
ˈrē-ˌses, ri-ˈses
: a temporary adjournment of a trial, hearing, or legislative session
recess
verb
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