recumbent

adjective

Definition of recumbentnext
as in horizontal
formal lying down The Egyptian sphinx has the body of a recumbent lion. a recumbent position

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective recumbent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of recumbent are prone, prostrate, and supine. While all these words mean "lying down," recumbent implies the posture of one sleeping or resting.

a patient comfortably recumbent in a hospital bed

When might prone be a better fit than recumbent?

While the synonyms prone and recumbent are close in meaning, prone implies a position with the front of the body turned toward the supporting surface.

push-ups require a prone position

In what contexts can prostrate take the place of recumbent?

The words prostrate and recumbent can be used in similar contexts, but prostrate implies lying full-length as in submission, defeat, or physical collapse.

a runner fell prostrate at the finish line

Where would supine be a reasonable alternative to recumbent?

The words supine and recumbent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supine implies lying on one's back and suggests inertness or abjectness.

lying supine on the couch

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of recumbent When the men ride their recumbent bikes together, Carol is left at home. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Apr. 2026 Bill Bucklew Now, Bucklew set to get on his recumbent tricycle and set off on a cross-cycle of the length of Route 66, along with a team of others living with Parkinson's. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026 Types of bikes insured Markel covers bicycles, tricycles, tandem bikes, recumbent bikes and e-bikes. — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026 The bespectacled local celebrity seemingly has it together — riding his recumbent bike to and from work each day, drinking healthy green juices, playing board games with his family on the weekends. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recumbent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for recumbent
  1. horizontal
  2. prone
  3. flat
  4. reclining
Adjective
  • As the pump draws fluid, the bladder expands to occupy the space, pushing out air pockets and ensuring a consistent jet whether the brush is upright, horizontal, or upside down.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Conversely, Zumthor’s building—however outsize, expensive, and anomalous—hides in plain sight as a piece of urban engineering, stitching together and swallowing the horizontal city whole.
    — Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of horizontal
Adjective
  • The main concern from Edouard in the always flood-prone Houston metro area is heavy rain and the flooding that follows, the National Weather Service in Houston said.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The tortuous regulatory system that is hostile to new nuclear plants makes the commercial process expensive, slow, and prone to legal challenges.
    — David Szondy August 31, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of prone
Adjective
  • Designed for limp, oily, and dull hair, the color-safe formula washes away stubborn dirt and grime—common culprits of flat waves—while a lineup of amino acids work to soften and strengthen strands.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026
  • How world maps compare Maps project a three-dimensional sphere onto a two-dimensional flat space.
    — Jewel Bright, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of flat
Adjective
  • Anton Radchenko, a lawyer and the chief executive of AirAdvisor, told the Times that the woman could bring a small claims lawsuit against the airline, pointing to two cases where passengers won money over a non-reclining seat in India and a disappointing business class cabin in New Zealand.
    — Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Definition of reclining

Browse Nearby Words

rectory
recumbent
recuperate
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Cite this Entry

“Recumbent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recumbent. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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