1
2
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
the couple goes to Florida every January for a month-long recess from the rigors of winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in pause
a momentary halt in an activity
the judge called for a brief recess so that the witness could regain her composure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hole
a sunken area forming a separate space
decided to camp in a sandy recess where the beach met the forest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to suspend
to bring to a formal close for a period of time
the judge recessed the court for lunch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of recess
Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
More than 130 people signed up to address the board during a public comment session that took so long the board paused for a five-minute recess halfway through to change microphone batteries.
—Samuel O’Neal April 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Martine Moïse, who was wounded during the attack, testified for about an hour before court recessed for the day.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recess
Noun
The interruptions led to the board calling two different recesses before finishing the vote virtually.
—Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
More than 130 people signed up to address the board during a public comment session that took so long the board paused for a five-minute recess halfway through to change microphone batteries.
—Samuel O’Neal April 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
Since Capitol Hill recessed last week after failing to end the nearly seven-week-long Department of Homeland Security shutdown, the tabloid set its sights on trying to shame lawmakers who skipped town amid the crisis.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Martine Moïse, who was wounded during the attack, testified for about an hour before court recessed for the day.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for recess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recess
Noun
-
The six individual bunkbed alcoves, built inside the airline's new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, will have a lie-flat bed with a mattress, pillow, sheets, blanket and a seatbelt.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Here in the 12,000-square-foot Asaya Spa, alcoves with loungers are like small sitting rooms.—
Rebecca Rose,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Another is East Sister Rock Island, a private vacation rental just off the coast of Marathon.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
In mid-April, Mexican holiday airline Magnicharters canceled all flights for two weeks, stranding some travelers in popular vacation destinations like Cancún, Mérida and Huatulco.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Manny fields it, kind of checks and gets the pause, throws it to second.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
For savers, the Fed's ongoing rate pause has effectively preserved an unusually favorable rate environment, one where yields on certificates of deposit (CDs), high-yield savings accounts and money market accounts remain well above the long-term historical average.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The project calls for the company to drill as many as 18 holes down some 1,000 feet into the Earth to collect samples.—
Sarah Raza,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
-
Another early hole The Lightning outplayed the Canadiens for much of the first period but couldn’t score the opening goal.—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Before the bus safety camera program was suspended last year, BusPatrol was mailing out violations with incorrect information.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
-
The campaign worked, and Kimmel was not only suspended but also had his show temporarily removed from being broadcast in most households.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
On an attached notecard, the Pretzables logo and website were in a much larger font than the commissioner’s holiday tidings.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Japan's Nikkei 225 surged above 62,000 to a record after a holiday, and South Korea's Kospi also hit a new high in early Asian trading.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Say goodbye to the mid-summer lull with the unstoppable flower power of these garden superstars.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
But that lull appears to be near its end, with both campaigns and the pro-Cornyn Super PAC Texans for a Conservative Majority now spending heavily to book up large blocks of television ads ahead of the May 26 runoff.—
James Osborne,
Houston Chronicle,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The nests also serve as sort of warehouses for any additional materials the birds might need to shore up their original nests, and lastly, nesting boxes that appear occupied keep other cavity dwelling birds from moving into the wrens’ territory.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
Melanoma in his lung and liver cavity.—
Matt Baker,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Recess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recess. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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