The antonyms for the phrase "was recumbent" are "was upright," "was standing," "was seated," and "was active." Instead of lying down, being recumbent implies a horizontal position. When the opposite is true, one may be depicted as standing tall, sitting comfortably, or engaging in physical activity. The use of antonyms in communication can help in expressing a contrast, such as describing a subject's position or a shift in thought. To describe someone who is not recumbent, one may use words such as alert, energetic, dynamic, or lively, to convey a sense of being active and engaged.