recent

adjective

re·​cent ˈrē-sᵊnt 

1

a

: having lately come into existence : new, fresh

b

: of or relating to a time not long past

2

capitalized : holocene

recentness noun

Examples of recent in a Sentence

Recent events have brought attention to the problem.

I usually watch that show every week, but I missed the most recent episode.

Medical science has made amazing progress in recent decades.

That was the biggest earthquake in recent history.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Fed's concerns of inflation still being higher than expected combined with a jump of Treasury yields actually caused mortgage interest rates to jump in recent weeks, not go lower. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

The list grew a little longer in recent weeks when Trump pardoned 1,500 or so Jan. 6 rioters and Biden did likewise for some of his closest family members. —David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2025

Trump's reference of the doctrine follows other expansionist rhetoric in recent weeks, including vows to take back control of the Panama Canal and a desire to buy Greenland. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2025

The outsized wolf-dog hybrids spotted on the loose in South Natomas and Discovery Park have been blamed for attacks on at least two pets in recent weeks, city officials said. —Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin recent-, recens; perhaps akin to Greek kainos new

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing recent

• of recent origin

Kids Definition

recent

adjective

re·​cent ˈrēs-ᵊnt 

1

a

: of or relating to a time not long past

recent history

b

: having lately appeared or come into existence : new, fresh

recent events

2

capitalized : holocene

recently adverb

recentness noun