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
Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
Super believes the Supreme Court is likely to weigh in on the Alien Enemies Act again — possibly before its summer recess.
—Joe Walsh
may 15, CBS News, 15 May 2025
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2025
The Arkansas House and Senate recessed on April 16.
—Josh Snyder, Arkansas Online, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for recess
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The prohibition has been in force for decades, prompted by the unseemly practice of the legislature going into recess for a few hours during its busiest time, the spring, to allow legislative leaders of both parties to hold fundraising events crowded with lobbyists and their clients.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
Super believes the Supreme Court is likely to weigh in on the Alien Enemies Act again — possibly before its summer recess.
—Joe Walsh
may 15, CBS News, 15 May 2025
Verb
At one point, school officials recessed the meeting.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 20 May 2025
The Arkansas House and Senate recessed on April 16.
—Josh Snyder, Arkansas Online, 2 May 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 4 Jun. 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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