From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
recede
v 1: pull back or move away or backward; "The enemy withdrew";
"The limo pulled away from the curb" [syn: withdraw,
retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back,
retire, move back] [ant: advance, go on, march
on, move on, pass on, progress]
2: retreat [syn: fall back, lose, drop off, fall behind,
recede] [ant: advance, gain, gain ground, get
ahead, make headway, pull ahead, win]
3: become faint or more distant; "the unhappy memories of her
childhood receded as she grew older"