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

In majority Black wards in Milwaukee, turnout has been declining in recent elections, including a 58% turnout in 2016 and 51% in 2020, compared with nearly 79% in 2012. —Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2024

On a recent Monday, the lunchtime crowd in LOVE Park was all about, well, love. —Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024

There’s been a lot of discussion in recent times about the comfort levels of business leaders with artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI. —Joe McKendrick, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Her publicist Heidi Schaeffer told The Associated Press that Garr died of multiple sclerosis, with which she was diagnosed in 1999, and had struggled with health issues in recent years. —Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2024

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