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 Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, which originated in 1892, has waned a bit in recent years as the Milwaukee Brewers have taken control of the National League Central. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

My neighborhood Nextdoor app, which covers a wide swath in DeKalb County and surrounding areas, has been lighting up in recent weeks with reports of coyotes spotted in backyards, city streets and even schoolyards. — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Recent concerns regarding the war's impact on shipping and construction timelines were addressed by Disney's CFO, who reaffirmed full commitment, citing the project's long-term view and strategic rationale. — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Rules have tightened in recent years, and officials with children and a spouse in other countries are not eligible for promotion. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 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