recline

verb

re·​cline ri-ˈklīn 

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

The best way to watch the meteor shower is to sit in a reclining lawn chair or lie on your back and look up at the sky with a wide view. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026

All four appeared in good spirits as they were helped out of the capsule and rolled inside the ship on reclining chairs. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Zhang allegedly reclined her seat as to seemingly try and not be seen, the record said. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

The Palmyra relief—a soaring limestone sculpture depicting a reclining man attended by women and children—was created for a burial chamber in the late 2nd century CE. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for recline

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• brucine
• byline

Kids Definition

recline

verb

re·​cline ri-ˈklīn 

reclined; reclining

1

: to lean or cause to lean backwards

2

: repose entry 1 sense 2, lie

reclining on the sofa