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Meaning & use

reclined position

phrase·Advancedmedical

Last updated

UK/rɪˈklaɪnd pəˈzɪʃən/
US/rɪˈklaɪnd pəˈzɪʃən/

Meaning

  1. phrasecountablemedical

    A body posture in which the upper body or the whole body is leaned back and supported.

    Grammar: A countable noun phrase: a reclined position, the reclined position.

    Patterns

    • in a reclined position
    • place someone in a reclined position
    • a slightly reclined position

    The dentist asked me to stay in a reclined position during the procedure.

    Patients should be placed in a reclined position to ease breathing.

    The seat can be adjusted to a fully reclined position for sleeping.

Common combinations

in a reclined position
She sat in a reclined position while the nurse checked her blood pressure.
a fully reclined position
The airline seat moves into a fully reclined position for long flights.
a slightly reclined position
Keep the patient in a slightly reclined position after the injection.
place someone in a reclined position
The paramedics placed him in a reclined position on the stretcher.

Synonyms and how they differ

reclining position
Nearly identical, but 'reclining' stresses the ongoing action of leaning back, while 'reclined' describes the resulting posture.
semi-recumbent position
More technical and medical; it specifically means partly lying down, whereas a reclined position can be just leaning back in a chair.
leaning back
An everyday description rather than a fixed phrase; it does not imply proper support for the body.

Opposites

upright positionsitting position

Word family

recline verb
To lean back or lie back in a relaxed way.
recliner noun
A chair whose back can be lowered.
reclining adjective
Leaning back, as in a reclining seat.

Commonly confused: reclined position or inclined position? reclined position or recumbent position?

reclined position vs inclined position

'Inclined' means tilted forward or at an angle, often head-up or head-down, not necessarily leaned back.

reclined position vs recumbent position

'Recumbent' means lying down flat, which is more than simply reclining.

Practice

The nurse put the patient in a reclined position to help him ______ more easily.

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