alcove

noun

al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv How to pronounce alcove (audio)
1
a
: a small recessed section of a room : nook
b
: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche
2
alcoved adjective

Examples of alcove in a Sentence

a small alcove in one corner of the backyard garden an ancient vase in an alcove and a sculpture of Achilles on a stand in the museum's Greek Hall
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The pot, found in an alcove used as a shelf, was mostly intact with two opposing handles but appeared to be missing its neck and parts of the rim, according to the release. Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025 Incorporating antique finds, greenery, and utilizing your home's quirky features, like alcoves and nooks, are just a few of the ways your home is set apart from the rest on the block. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Mar. 2025 Curtains of a Tartan by Strathmore Woollen Company add privacy to a room lined with alcove beds. Michael James Gardner, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025 The artsy atmosphere of the hotel attracts remote workers to the lobby’s many alcoves to work. Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alcove

Word History

Etymology

French alcôve, from Spanish alcoba, from Arabic al-qubba the arch

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of alcove was in 1655

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alcove.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcove. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

alcove

noun
al·​cove ˈal-ˌkōv How to pronounce alcove (audio)
1
: a small section of a room set back from the rest of it
2
: an arched opening (as in a wall) : niche

More from Merriam-Webster on alcove

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!