Both Uses of

recede
in
True Believer, by Sparks

Behind them, the house was receding into the distance as they rounded the hedge.†
Chpt 10 *

receding = moving away or diminishing (become less)

For an instant, Jeremy imagined that he saw the shapes of people or things, but just then the light began to recede, as if being pulled on a string, back toward the center, and even before he realized the lights had vanished, the cemetery had turned black once more.†
Chpt 10

recede = to move away or diminish (become less)

Definition:

to move away or diminish (become less)

The exact meaning of recede depends upon its context. For example:

"We can't move back in until the floodwaters recede." -- diminish and move away
"Her fear receded." -- diminished
"The waves first advance and then recede." -- move away
"The news story receded into the background as it was replaced by new stories." -- received diminished attention
"a receding hairline" -- diminished hair (each year the line where hair stops growing is higher on the forehead)
"She has a receding chin." -- sloping back (as contrasted to sticking out)