recline

verb

re·​cline ri-ˈklīn How to pronounce recline (audio)
reclined; reclining

transitive verb

: to cause or permit to incline backwards

intransitive verb

1
: to lean or incline backwards
2
: repose, lie

Examples of recline in a Sentence

She was reclining on the sofa, watching TV. The theater has reclining seats. He reclined his seat so that he could nap more comfortably.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The backrest reclines to five different angles, and, set all the way back, the chaise can accommodate the full body of someone who’s up to six feet, four inches tall. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2025 The chairs fully recline and can be locked in an upright or laid back position, ensuring safety and stability. Maggie Horton, People.com, 3 May 2025 Jordan must then recline there for hours, like a sunbather in a deck chair, trying to project the feeling that a whole hillside is crushing him. Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 Gladstone and Boselli converged in the draft room — Gladstone pacing and fondling a football (which has become his custom), Boselli reclining in a chair facing the draft board — and spoke excitedly of the night ahead. Michael Silver, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recline

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French recliner, from Latin reclinare, from re- + clinare to bend — more at lean

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of recline was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recline. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

recline

verb
re·​cline ri-ˈklīn How to pronounce recline (audio)
reclined; reclining
1
: to lean or cause to lean backwards
2
: repose entry 1 sense 2, lie
reclining on the sofa

More from Merriam-Webster on recline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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