recent

adjective

re·​cent ˈrē-sᵊnt How to pronounce recent (audio)
Synonyms of recent
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.
However, these warnings cover areas that have been hit by recent wildfires, including Spokane. — Jenna Harrison, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 Shipping data suggests that more crude oil is leaving the Gulf via a southern route close to the coast with Oman, a threat to the leverage Iran has exercised in recent months. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 Crib standards also change, as drop-sided cribs were banned from manufacture in 2011, with the most recent crib regulation update being August 1, 2026. — Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026 The findings are backed up by a recent survey from travel insurance comparison site Quotezone. — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 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

Phrases Containing recent

Rhymes for recent

See All Rhymes for recent

Browse Nearby Words

recension
recent
recently
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recent. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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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

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for recent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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