Synonyms of recesses

recesses 1 of 2

noun

plural of recess

1

as in alcoves

a hollowed-out space in a wall

the curator placed the large vase in one of the recesses of the gallery wall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• alcoves
• corners
• nooks
• niches
• crannies
• cubbyholes
• housings
• cubicles
• embrasures
• indents
• indentations
• shrines
• dents
• indentures
• ambries

2

as in vacations

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

• vacations
• holidays
• leaves
• breaks
• hols
• intervals
• liberties
• relaxations
• rests
• furloughs
• breathers
• sabbaticals
• respites
• legal holidays
• intermissions
• feasts
• holy days
• interims

3

as in pauses

a momentary halt in an activity

the judge called for a brief recess so that the witness could regain her composure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pauses
• lulls
• breaths
• breaks
• interruptions
• rests
• intervals
• breathers
• respites
• interludes
• gaps
• suspensions
• intermissions
• interims
• stoppages
• lapses
• discontinuances
• cessations
• terminations
• endings
• discontinuities
• downtimes
• time-outs
• hiatuses
• expirations
• hitches
• moratoriums
• abeyances
• surceases

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continuations
• progressions
• progresses
• extensions
• endurances
• prolongations
• persistences

4

as in holes

a sunken area forming a separate space

decided to camp in a sandy recess where the beach met the forest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• holes
• dents
• pits
• cavities
• hollows
• furrows
• depressions
• concavities
• indentations
• valleys
• ditches
• trenches
• caverns
• grooves
• caves
• pockets
• alcoves
• indentures
• burrows
• nooks
• basins
• dints
• excavations
• impressions
• bowls
• troughs
• sockets
• openings
• gutters
• clefts
• craters
• dimples
• wells
• abysses
• niches
• imprints
• voids
• alveoli
• notches
• gouges
• chasms
• boreholes
• water holes
• potholes
• vacuums
• sinkholes
• vacuities
• postholes
• chuckholes
• wallows
• gulfs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• projections
• protrusions
• protuberances
• hills
• bulges
• mounds
• convexities
• tumors
• rises
• cambers
• juts
• bumps
• swellings
• swells
• lumps
• humps
• pimples
• bunches

recesses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of recess

as in suspends

to bring to a formal close for a period of time

the judge recessed the court for lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suspends
• adjourns
• postpones
• interrupts
• shelves
• prorogues
• prorogates
• tables
• reserves
• breaks off
• disperses
• ends
• defers
• voids
• stops
• recalls
• intermits
• halts
• closes
• winds up
• holds off
• dissolves
• terminates
• disbands
• puts off
• discontinues
• calls
• annuls
• wraps up
• revokes
• invalidates
• breaks up
• concludes
• nullifies
• quashes
• calls off
• rescinds
• repeals
• aborts
• negates
• abrogates
• drops

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• opens
• extends
• proceeds
• launches
• prolongs
• continues
• resumes
• inaugurates
• draws out
• carries on
• reopens
• renews
• calls
• assembles
• summons
• rallies
• convenes
• convokes
• musters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of recesses

Noun

Herzog’s adventurous spirit has led him to explore the furthest reaches of the globe, but also inward to map the strangest recesses of the heart. — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals. — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

Mayor Kevin McCarty’s spokesperson Geneva Jacob did not answer a question about why the recess went on longer than several other recent recesses, citing closed session restrictions. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026

The resolution will now head to the Senate, but with August recesses for both chambers rapidly approaching, the clock is ticking. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 23 July 2026

In a Fox News op-ed published Monday, the hard-line conservative asserted that the upper chamber takes too many recesses and has too short of a workweek. — Matthew Choi, Washington Post, 13 July 2026

To accommodate setbacks and height restrictions, the house rises four stories, with bays and recesses that break up the massing so the house doesn’t loom over its neighbors. — Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

When the site is level, fill the recesses with sand, and tamp again. — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2026

How space exploration helped ocean exploration By the middle of the 20th century, Swiss inventor and explorer Auguste Piccard proved that the technology used to explore space could also be used to access the deepest ocean recesses. — Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026

Verb

The House recesses even earlier, heading out of town at the end of this week. — Tanaya MacHeel,garrett Downs, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026