Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Happening or beginning in a time not long before the present: Refers to events, changes, or things that have occurred or come into existence a short time ago.
   • Modern, new: Describes something that belongs to the current or latest period.

2. Noun:

   • (Geology) The Recent epoch: A specific term in geology referring to the current geological epoch, approximately the last 10,000 years, following the Pleistocene; also called the Holocene.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • I read about it in a recent newspaper article.
  • Her most recent book is her best yet.
  • The house is a recent addition to the neighborhood.
• Noun (Specialized):
  • Fossils from the Recent show little change in some species.

Advanced Usage

• In recent memory: Within the time that people can easily remember.
  • It was the hottest summer in recent memory.
• Until relatively recently: Up to a time not long before now.
  • Until relatively recently, this area was all farmland.

Variants and Related Words

• Recently (adverb): Not long ago.
  • I saw him recently.
• Recency (noun): The quality or state of being recent.
  • The recency of the event made the details vivid.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Latest, new, modern, contemporary, fresh, current.
• Noun (Geology): Holocene.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Old, ancient, early, former, remote.

Related Phrases

• Of recent origin: Having begun or been created not long ago.
  • The tradition is of recent origin.
• Recent past: The time immediately before the present.
  • In the recent past, such technology was unimaginable.

Adjective

1. of the immediate past or just previous to the present time
   • a late development
   • their late quarrel
   • his recent trip to Africa
   • in recent months
   • a recent issue of the journal
2. new
   • recent graduates
   • a recent addition to the house
   • recent buds on the apple trees

Noun

1. approximately the last 10,000 years