recent

UK: /ˈriːs^ənt/ US: /ˈrisənt/ ,(rē′sənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•cent /ˈrisənt/   adj. 

1. occurring, appearing, or starting a short while ago:
   Recent events suggest that peace is at hand.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•cent  (rē′sənt), adj. 

1. of late occurrence, appearance, or origin;
   lately happening, done, made, etc.:
   recent events; a recent trip.
2. not long past:
   in recent years.
3. of or belonging to a time not long past.
4. Geology (cap.) 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. See table under geologic time. 

n. 

5. Geology Also called Holocene. (cap.)the Recent Epoch or Series.

• Latin recent- (stem of recēns) fresh, new
• 1525–35

re′cen•cy, re′cent•ness, n. 
re′cent•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. fresh, new. See modern. 

Antonyms

• 1. early, old.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

recent / ˈriːs^ənt/ adjective

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

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin recens fresh; related to Greek kainos new

ˈrecently adverb

ˈrecentness, ˈrecency noun

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Recent / ˈriːs^ənt/ adjective , noun

1. another word for Holocene