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

According to a recent annual study by First Amendment literary advocacy group PEN American and the American Library Association, Tennessee has the third highest rate of book removals from public schools in the nation. —Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025

In recent weeks, the company made a flurry of announcements to further expand its territory in 2026. —Lora Kolodny,jennifer Elias,annie Palmer, CNBC, 16 Dec. 2025

In recent years, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office has filed homicide charges against people accused of providing fentanyl to someone who later died from using the synthetic opioid. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025

For Martelly, who served as president between 2011-16 and lives in Miami, this marks the second major action against him in recent days. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 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

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