recent

[ ree-suhnt ]

adjective

1. of late occurrence, appearance, or origin; lately happening, done, made, etc.:

   recent events; a recent trip.

   Synonyms: new, fresh

   Antonyms: old, early

2. not long past:

   in recent years.

3. of or belonging to a time not long past.
4. Recent. Geology. noting or pertaining to the present epoch, originating at the end of the glacial period, about 10,000 years ago, and forming the latter half of the Quaternary Period; Holocene.

noun

1. Recent. Geology. the Recent Epoch or Series. Also called Holocene.

recent

¹

/ ˈriːsənt /

adjective

1. having appeared, happened, or been made not long ago; modern, fresh, or new

Recent

²

/ ˈriːsənt /

adjective

1. geology another word for Holocene

Recent

/ rē′sənt /

1. See Holocene

Derived Forms

• ˈrecentness, noun
• ˈrecently, adverb

Other Words From

• re·cen·cy re·cent·ness noun
• re·cent·ly adverb
• qua·si-re·cent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recent¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin recent- (stem of recēns ) “fresh, new”

Word History and Origins

Origin of recent¹

C16: from Latin recens fresh; related to Greek kainos new

Synonym Study

See modern.

Example Sentences

For example, genes associated with traits that allowed early Europeans to produce vitamin D and digest milk into adulthood showed strong signs of selection, but only in the most recent time periods.

From Science Daily

Or consider the recent Room for the River programme, which applies natural solutions to increase the capacity of rivers while simultaneously improving biodiversity.

From Science Daily

Sleep research has exploded in recent years, with thousands of animal studies exploring how insufficient sleep impacts risk of diseases like diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's and immune disorders -- and how such diseases impact sleep.

From Science Daily

The row comes at a time of worsening tensions between Algeria and France, triggered by President Emmanuel Macron’s recent recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

From BBC

Tropicana loyalists are upset over a recent bottle redesign that not only alters the aesthetic but also reduces capacity.

From Salon

Related Words

• late
• new