recent

adjective

re·​cent ˈrē-sᵊnt How to pronounce recent (audio)
Synonyms of recentnext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Weiss took the recent Iranian protests seriously, asking staff during one morning call if the new round of protests could be the wave that topples the regime, leading to skepticism from some journalists in London. Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026 The recent increase in gas prices was attributed to severe winter weather across the country over the past month. Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026 The way the Dodgers have spent money in recent years, one area that often gets overlooked is their ability to draft, trade for and develop prospects. Jack Vita, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026 That is a deep cut, even for the tech industry, which bulked up during the pandemic and has been shedding thousands of jobs in recent months. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recent

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of recent was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recent. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

recent

adjective
re·​cent ˈrēs-ᵊnt How to pronounce recent (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on recent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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