recess
gb/ɹˈisɛs/ us/ɹˈisɛs/
A2
English
~ 8600
szünet, mélyedés, falfülke, ülésszünet, valaminek a mélye, rejtett zug, szünetet tart, elnapol, szünetet rendel el, besüllyeszt
NOUN
A2
1
szünet
A1
Usage pattern:
recess at [school/time]; at recess
The kids rushed outside as soon as the bell rang for recess.
A gyerekek azonnal kirohantak, amint kicsengettek a szünetre.
She met most of her friends by the swings during recess.
A szünetben a hintáknál találkozott a legtöbb barátjával.
Because of the heavy rain, the students had to stay inside for indoor recess.
Teachers on recess duty watched the students on the playground.
We only have ten minutes of morning recess at this school.
Learner examples
The children play soccer at recess.
A gyerekek fociznak a szünetben.
I eat a small snack during recess.
A szünetben eszem egy kis harapnivalót.
It started to rain, so recess was inside.
He likes to read books at recess.
We talk with friends at recess time.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "recess" means any holiday or long vacation. In modern English, it usually means a short break, especially at school, not a long holiday. Also, do not confuse it with "recession," which is about the economy.
Meaning
short school break for play
Collocations
at recess
|recess time
|morning recess
|afternoon recess
|indoor recess
|recess duty
Synonyms
break (General term; not limited to school and can mean any pause in activity.)
|
playtime (Especially BrE and for younger children; focuses on playing rather than simply stopping class.)
Antonyms
class (Refers to the period of active teaching and learning, the opposite of a rest period.)
Themes
education
|daily life
|children
|daily_life
Definition
A short time at school when you stop class and can go outside or play.
A short break in the school day when classes stop and students are free to rest or play.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a recess in [a wall/surface]
They installed a small bookshelf in a recess in the living room wall.
Egy kis könyvespolcot szereltek a nappali egyik falának mélyedésébe.
The statue stood neatly in a recess by the doorway.
A szobor szépen állt az ajtó melletti falfülkében.
We built a shower recess to keep the bathroom floor dry.
A narrow window recess let in a strip of light.
The bed fits perfectly into the recess between the two wardrobes.
Learner examples
There is a small recess in the wall for the TV.
A falban van egy kis mélyedés a tévének.
She puts flowers in a recess near the door.
Virágokat tesz az ajtó melletti falfülkébe.
The light is high in a recess in the ceiling.
We made a recess in the bathroom wall for shampoo.
The shelf sits in a recess above the bed.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the school-break meaning. If you say "a recess in the wall," it always means a hollow space, not a break from work.
Meaning
small hollow space in surface
Collocations
a recess in the wall
|window recess
|deep recess
|a recess for shelves
|built-in recess
|recessed lighting
Synonyms
niche (Often suggests a small decorative space in a wall, sometimes more formal or architectural.)
|
alcove (Typically refers to a larger recessed area or small side space in a room, not just a shallow hollow.)
Antonyms
projection (Refers to something that sticks out from a surface, the opposite of a space that is set back.)
Themes
home
|architecture
|objects
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small hollow place in a wall or other surface, where something can be put.
A small hollow space or opening that is set back from a surface, especially in a wall, used for things like shelves, cupboards, or decorations.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
3
szünet
A1
ülésszünet
B2
Usage pattern:
recess from [proceedings/work]; in recess
The judge called a fifteen-minute recess so the lawyers could review the new evidence.
A bíró tizenöt perces szünetet rendelt el, hogy az ügyvédek átnézhessék az új bizonyítékokat.
Congress goes into summer recess at the end of July.
A Kongresszus július végén nyári ülésszünetre vonul.
The committee took a brief recess before voting on the proposal.
When the court is in recess, cameras are not allowed in the courtroom.
Parliament will return from its winter recess in early February.
Learner examples
The court took a short recess for lunch.
A bíróság rövid szünetet tartott ebédre.
Parliament is in recess during August.
A parlament augusztusban ülésszünetet tart.
The meeting went on without any recess.
The chair announced a ten-minute recess.
They plan to discuss it again after the recess.
Common mistake:
Learners may use "recess" for any office coffee break. In modern usage, this sense is mainly for official bodies like courts or parliaments; for a normal job, "break" or "coffee break" is more natural.
Meaning
temporary break in formal meetings
Collocations
in recess
|summer recess
|call a recess
|court recess
|brief recess
|Parliament is in recess
Synonyms
adjournment (More technical and legal; often used specifically in court or formal meetings.)
|
break (More general; can refer to any pause, not only in formal bodies.)
Antonyms
session (Describes the period when a court or parliament is meeting and working, the opposite of recess.)
Themes
law
|politics
|work
Definition
A time when a court, parliament, or other official group stops work for a short or fixed period.
A period when the work or meetings of a court, parliament, or other official body are temporarily stopped.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
4
rejtett zug
C1
Usage pattern:
the recesses of [something]
The memory came back to her from the deepest recesses of her mind.
Az emlék az elméje legmélyéről tört elő.
Sunlight barely reached the dark recesses at the back of the cave.
A napfény alig jutott el a barlang mélyén lévő sötét zugokba.
He explored the hidden recesses of the abandoned building with a flashlight.
Doubts remained in the recesses of his thoughts, even after the apology.
The novel takes us into the recesses of human desire and fear.
Learner examples
He could feel anger in the recesses of his heart.
Haragot érzett a szíve mélyén.
Light did not reach the recesses of the cave.
A fény nem jutott el a barlang mélyére.
She searched the recesses of her mind for the name.
Secrets stayed in the dark recesses of their home.
Strange animals lived in the recesses of the forest.
Common mistake:
Learners may not recognize that this meaning is often plural ("the recesses of...") and somewhat literary. In everyday speech, people more often say "the depths of his mind" or "deep inside his mind."
Meaning
hidden inner parts of something
Collocations
the recesses of the mind
|the deep recesses of his memory
|the dark recesses of the cave
|hidden recesses
|the inner recesses of her heart
|search the recesses of
Synonyms
depths (Focuses on how far inside or hidden something is; often used similarly in figurative contexts.)
|
inner reaches (Emphasizes internal and often hard-to-access parts, especially in abstract or poetic language.)
Antonyms
surface (Refers to the outside or most visible part, the opposite of hidden inner parts.)
Themes
psychology
|literature
|places
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The deep, hidden parts of a place or of someone’s mind that are not easy to see or know.
The most hidden or remote inner parts of a place, object, or mind, often where things are difficult to see or understand.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
to recess [a meeting/court] until [time]; to recess for [time]
The judge decided to recess the trial until Monday.
A bíró úgy döntött, hogy hétfőig elnapolja a tárgyalást.
The committee recessed for thirty minutes to review the proposal.
A bizottság harminc perces szünetet tartott, hogy átnézze a javaslatot.
We will recess this meeting until after the lunch break.
Due to technical problems, the hearing was recessed early.
The board recessed at 3 p.m. and reconvened an hour later.
Learner examples
The court will recess for lunch.
A bíróság ebédszünetet tart majd.
The chair said, "We will recess until two o’clock."
Az elnök azt mondta: „Kettőig szünetet tartunk.”
They recessed the meeting because of the storm.
The committee recessed and came back later.
The trial recessed for a short break.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to use "recess" for informal meetings (e.g., "Let’s recess our coffee chat"). In everyday office talk, people say "take a break" or "take five"; "recess" as a verb sounds legal or very formal.
Meaning
to pause formal meetings temporarily
Collocations
recess the meeting
|recess until tomorrow
|recess for lunch
|court recessed at noon
|the committee recessed
|the hearing recessed early
Synonyms
adjourn (More standard in legal and formal contexts; often slightly more formal than "recess".)
|
suspend (More general; can be longer or indefinite, while "recess" suggests a temporary, planned break.)
Antonyms
resume (Means to start something again after a pause, the natural opposite of stopping for a recess.)
Themes
law
|work
|politics
Definition
To stop a formal meeting or court for a short time and plan to start again later.
To temporarily stop the activities of a formal meeting, court, or similar body for a break, with the intention of starting again later.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
6
besüllyeszt
B2
Usage pattern:
to recess [an object] into [a wall/surface]
They decided to recess the shelves into the wall to save space.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy a helytakarékosság érdekében a polcokat a falba süllyesztik.
The architect recessed the lights so that the ceiling would look clean and simple.
Az építész a mennyezetbe süllyesztette a lámpákat, hogy a mennyezet letisztult és egyszerű hatást keltsen.
The door handles are recessed to create a smooth surface.
We plan to recess the medicine cabinet between the wall studs.
The windows are slightly recessed to reduce noise from the street.
Learner examples
They recessed the lights into the ceiling.
A lámpákat a mennyezetbe süllyesztették.
The shelves are recessed in the wall.
A polcok a falba vannak süllyesztve.
We want to recess the cabinet to make more space.
The door is recessed so the wall looks flat.
The builder will recess the window a little.
Common mistake:
Learners may know the adjective "recessed" (as in "recessed lights") but not recognize it comes from the verb "to recess." The verb is mainly used in technical or design contexts.
Meaning
to set something back into surface
Collocations
recessed lighting
|recessed shelves
|recess the cabinet
|recessed window
|recessed doorway
|recess the handle
Synonyms
embed (General word for fixing something firmly inside another material; does not necessarily suggest being flush with a surface.)
|
set back (Phrasal verb that describes moving something away from the front or edge, similar idea but less technical.)
Antonyms
protrude (Means to stick out from a surface, the opposite of being recessed into it.)
Themes
architecture
|home
|design
|housing
|work
Definition
To put or build something inside a wall or surface so its front is level with or behind the surface.
To place or build something so that it is set back into a wall or surface, rather than sticking out from it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
recess
IPA
GB/ɹˈisɛs/
US/ɹˈisɛs/
Syllables & stress
re - cess (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (re)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: recess
- Plural: recess, recesses
Verb
- Base: recess
- 3rd Person Singular: recesses
- Present Participle: recessing
- Past: recessed
Word family
Expressions
at recess
1/ˈæt ɹˈisɛs/
fixed phrase
during school recess time
Used to say that something happens during the school recess break.
Examples
- I’ll talk to you at recess so we don’t get in trouble in class.
- The students usually play basketball at recess.
- She forgot her jacket on the playground at recess.
call a recess
1/kˈɔl ə ɹˈisɛs/
fixed phrase
formal
decide to take a formal break
To officially say that a meeting, court, or similar group will stop for a short break.
Examples
- The judge decided to call a recess so the jury could rest.
- Let’s call a recess and return in twenty minutes.
- The chair called a recess after the heated argument.
deep recesses of the mind
1/dˈip ɹˈisɛsɪz əv ðə mˈaɪnd/
idiom
literary
hidden inner parts of the mind
The very hidden parts of your mind, where old or secret thoughts and memories are kept.
Examples
- The smell brought back a memory from the deep recesses of her mind.
- Some fears stay buried in the deep recesses of the mind for years.
- The therapist helped him explore the deep recesses of his mind.
go to recess
1/ɡˈoʊ tə ɹˈisɛs/
fixed phrase
leave class to have recess
To leave class so that you can have the school recess break.
Examples
- The children were excited to go to recess after a long math lesson.
- We usually go to recess at ten thirty.
- If you finish your work, you can go to recess early.
in recess
1/ˈɪn ɹˈisɛs/
fixed phrase
formal
temporarily not in formal session
Used to say that a court, parliament, or formal group is not meeting for a period of time.
Examples
- The court is in recess until Monday morning.
- Congress is in recess, so no votes will be held this week.
- While the committee is in recess, staff will prepare a new report.
lunch recess
1/lˈʌnt͡ʃ ɹˈisɛs/
fixed phrase
recess taken for lunch
A recess that is used for eating lunch, in school or in a court or meeting.
Examples
- The judge announced a one-hour lunch recess.
- During lunch recess the children can eat and play outside.
- We didn’t finish the meeting before the lunch recess.
recess time
1/ɹˈisɛs tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
the period of school recess
The part of the school day when students have recess.
Examples
- Recess time is only fifteen minutes at my school.
- During recess time, the younger children stay in a separate area.
- The teacher used part of recess time to finish the test.
summer recess
1/sˈʌmɚ ɹˈisɛs/
fixed phrase
formal
parliament or court’s summer break
The long summer break when a parliament, court, or other official group does not meet.
Examples
- The bill will be debated after Parliament returns from its summer recess.
- The Supreme Court issues its final decisions before going into summer recess.
- During the summer recess, many politicians visit their home districts.