The waves had receded, leaving bits of dark debris upon the ground.

He fought it off and came up for air as the wave receded.

The wave of pain receded almost as quickly as it had come.

The wave of shame that had started to crest receded.

This time, his knee struck bottom before the wave receded.

The waves receded, until finally they were obscured by a dark blue haze.

But as one wave recedes, another is already building.

Then, as the wave receded, the music made itself heard again.

Then the wave receded, and our weight pulled us free.

The first wave of fear had receded, assisted by the need for action.