alcove

American  

[al-kohv] / ˈæl koʊv /

noun

• alcoves
  plural

1. a recess or small room adjacent to or opening out of a room.

   a dining alcove.

2. a recess in a room for a bed, bookcases, or the like.

3. any recessed space, as a bower in a garden.

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alcove British  

/ ˈælkəʊv /

noun

1. a recess or niche in the wall of a room, as for a bed, books, etc

2. any recessed usually vaulted area, as in a garden wall

3. any covered or secluded spot, such as a summerhouse

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• alcoves
  plural

Etymology

Origin of alcove

1670–80; < French alcôve < Spanish alcoba < Arabic al-qubbah the dome

Explanation

Chapels in churches are often alcoves. Picture one set off to the side with a vaulted ceiling, separated by pillars and a small railing. See that and you see an alcove, defined. If your bed is in an alcove in a studio apartment, it is in a recessed area of the room, separated by an arch or a half wall but not by a door. Think of an alcove as a sidecar to a room or even a cave. It's a separate smaller area that is still attached, but feels cozy because it is partially enclosed.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alcove alcoves

The kitchen is complemented by a breakfast alcove that is nestled into a windowed nook overlooking the back porch and the swimming pool.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 10, 2026

Throughout those months, he got to know the guy who frequented his alcove, the one Ed had warned him about.

From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026

An alcove devoted to gay rights displays an early version of the rainbow flag, campaign and protest buttons, and a ceiling fragment from the Stonewall Inn, where a 1969 uprising launched the gay liberation movement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025

In the entryway alcove, he used tropical-patterned grasscloth wallpaper and 1960s glass pendants to display the couple’s barware and Tiki-Ti memorabilia.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2024

After passing through an alcove containing a safe, a wardrobe and a big supply cupboard, you come to the small, dark, stuffy back office.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Cubicles and alcoves don’t eliminate teamwork, but simply give employees a dedicated space to concentrate, recharge and hold quiet conversations without disrupting others.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 5, 2026

Outside the San Bernardino County Government Center, there’s now a Curtain of Courage — 14 bronze alcoves, each curved like a protective wall and dedicated to one of the victims.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2025

After they said prayers for each victim, the white-shrouded bodies were carefully lowered into two deep trenches and put into alcoves that had been carved out at the bottom on the sides.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 20, 2023

My summers were spent oscillating between New Jersey beaches and the blast-chilled alcoves of my local library, reading about tornadoes, Greek mythology and Count Olaf.

From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2023

Around the back side of the room, opposite the stairwell, nine alcoves were carved into the wall.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• compartment
• cubicle