recede
To move back or become further away.
recede in a sentence
- As the tide receded, rock pools full of crabs appeared along the beach.
- As the train pulled away, we watched the lights of the station slowly recede into the distance.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to recede?
- Aadvance
- Bapproach
- Cgrow
- Dretreat
Show the answer
D: retreat. The other three mean the opposite of recede.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to recede?
- Aadvance
- Bretreat
- Cebb
- Dwithdraw
Show the answer
A: advance. The other three mean nearly the same as recede.
Words that mean something similar
retreat, withdraw, ebb
Words that mean the opposite
advance, grow, approach
More words about movement & action
- recoil: To jump back suddenly in fear or disgust.
- repel: To push something away or drive it back, or to make someone feel disgusted.
- restrain: To hold someone or something back.
- retreat: To move back or away, especially from danger.
- retrieve: To go and get something back.
- revolt: To rise up and fight against the people in charge.
- rigid: Stiff and impossible to bend, or very strict.
- roam: To wander around freely with no fixed plan.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test