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 Stars have left the Mammoth in their dust with their recent streak, now a full 20 points ahead of Utah in the standings. —Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026

In a recent interview with Time, Foundation co-founder Mike LeBlanc said the company deployed two Phantom Mk-I humanoid robots to Ukraine in February. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026

My most recent splurge was finally hiring a model for my last photoshoot. —Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026

In recent months, several female founders synonymous with the 2010s wave of millennial entrepreneurship have begun their second acts. —Amy Francombe, Vogue, 16 Mar. 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