What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recede
Example
The tide began to recede, revealing the sandy beach. [recede: verb]
Example
As he walked away, his voice receded into the distance. [receded: past tense]
Example
The tension between the two countries seems to be receding slowly. [receding: present participle]
recoil
Example
She recoiled in horror at the sight of the spider. [recoil: verb]
Example
The gun recoiled sharply after he fired it. [recoiled: past tense]
Example
The proposal was met with immediate recoil from the board members. [recoil: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recede is more commonly used than recoil in everyday language, especially in the context of water or distance. Recoil is less common and tends to be used in more specific contexts, such as guns or negative reactions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recede and recoil?
Both recede and recoil are formal words, but recede is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels, while recoil is more specific and may be considered more technical or specialized.
