recent

adjective

re·​cent ˈrē-sᵊnt How to pronounce recent (audio)
1
a
: having lately come into existence : new, fresh
b
: of or relating to a time not long past
2
capitalized : 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.
Here's what to know The race marks one of the most competitive Mesa mayoral races in recent history. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024 Despite our efforts, recent studies show that today's generation of children might have a shorter lifespan than their parents — something that hasn’t happened in two centuries. Fred Sassani, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024 Despite the long odds, nonprofit leaders and advocates have pushed aggressively in recent days to urge supporters to call their representatives and urge them to oppose the legislation. David Bowermaster, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Within the past year, the home prices in major Indian cities have shot up, along with the number of luxury car sales, reflecting the country’s recent surge in wealth. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near recent

Cite this Entry

“Recent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recent. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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