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

Recent : 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 Mets in recent years have rarely gone with pitchers in the first round. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 12 July 2026

San Diego has been a state leader in apartment construction in recent years and that appears to have had a noticeable effect on rents. — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026

While referee Herb Dean has faced recent scrutiny for other bouts, this stoppage was widely regarded as clean and timely. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026

About two decades ago, the feminist website Jezebel, in one of its first posts, offered ten thousand dollars to anyone who could provide the original, unaltered version of a recent glossy-magazine cover photo. — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026

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

Rhymes for recent

• decent
• puissant
• indecent

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