recent

word

/ˈɹisənt/
REE-suhnt
/ɹˈiːsənt/
REE-suhnt

Definition

Something recent happened not long ago or started only a short time ago. It describes people, events, news, changes, or periods that are close to the present time.

Usage & Nuances

Most common before a noun: 'recent news', 'recent changes', 'recent research'. It is more natural than 'new' when you mean time, not freshness or novelty. We also say 'in recent years/days/months', but not usually 'very recent' in everyday speech unless you want emphasis.

Example Sentences

I read a recent article about sleep.

basic

Her recent trip to Japan was amazing.

basic

We talked about recent changes at work.

basic

Given recent events, I think we should wait a bit.

natural

His recent comments caused a lot of confusion online.

natural

In recent years, more people have started working from home.

natural