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
Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
The House of Representatives has fled Washington for their annual August recess, but the Senate may be stuck sweltering at work.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Cate Martel, The Hill, 19 May 2025
Jones took the stand late in the day, and Henderson had only scratched the surface of the evidence before the judge recessed the trial for the day.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recess
Noun
A day later, recess be damned, a House Oversight subcommittee voted, 8–2, to subpoena the Justice Department for Epstein records that the Trump Administration has refused to release.
—Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
The House of Representatives has fled Washington for their annual August recess, but the Senate may be stuck sweltering at work.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 24 July 2025
Verb
Punchbowl News says Republican leadership won’t recess for Memorial Day weekend until the House passes it.
—Cate Martel, The Hill, 19 May 2025
Jones took the stand late in the day, and Henderson had only scratched the surface of the evidence before the judge recessed the trial for the day.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recess
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recess
Noun
-
Tommasino told me that one of the guest rooms had been a pantry, with a small alcove that had a fireplace to make goat cheese.—
Aileen Weintraub,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 July 2025
-
Two upstairs en suite bedrooms include the primary suite, which features a tiled balcony offering up a picturesque view of the Griffith Observatory, dual walk-in closets, and a bath flaunting a marble soaking tub notched into a windowed and arched alcove.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Plus, Gwyneth Paltrow wore a pair of Celine sandals on vacation recently.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
People.com,
30 July 2025
-
People – mostly men – would come from East Coast cities like New York to ranches on vacation, often dressed in full cowboy attire, according to Bryce Albright, executive director of the National Dude Ranchers Association, an organization that has been around for almost 100 years.—
Kat Lonsdorf,
NPR,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Even though no funding has been cut, Jackson condemned the administration, contending the effect of the pause is going to be massive and could result in North Carolina firing about 1,000 educators.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 July 2025
-
Decisions are made, the next task appears, and there’s little pause to examine what worked or what missed.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
And the man with a gruesome hole in his body as a result of necrosis.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
-
Secure burn barrels: If burning is permitted in your area, ensure that all burn barrels have a weighted metal cover, complete with holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
In Georgia, as more than 50 data centers have cropped up around Atlanta and other parts of the state, lawmakers opted to suspend data center subsidies to reassess the industry's impacts, although Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed the measure.—
Connor Giffin,
The Courier-Journal,
30 July 2025
-
Projects in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Baltimore all appear to have been quietly dropped, and despite an announcement for a Fort Lauderdale tunnel in 2021, the project appears to be suspended.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
Terrell also said this bill was coming up during Passover, a Jewish high holiday.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
-
New openings abound on Spain’s southern coastline, but the newest, Fairmont La Hacienda, is capturing the essence of quiet travel to offer holidays with a difference.—
Angelina Villa-Clarke,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Noun
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What’s wrong with a lull in sales? Slow-growing sales, if not corrected, ultimately mean declining profitability – and stock price.—
Alexander Coolidge,
The Enquirer,
29 July 2025
-
It's been another busy week for politics in Kentucky — with no sign of a summer lull.—
Bailey Loosemore,
Louisville Courier Journal,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
These fibroids can be located on the surface of the uterus, in the wall of the uterus, or the uterine cavity.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
30 July 2025
-
Some methods, such as adding loose fill perlite inside the cavities in a CMU block wall, are inexpensive.—
Jamie Gold,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Recess.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recess. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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