# recent

/ˈɹisənt/ (US) · /ɹˈiːsənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/recent
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. happened a short time ago

adjective · CEFR A2

happening or starting only a short time ago.

For teachers: having happened, begun, or been done only a short time ago.

- In recent years, more people have started working from home.
- Recent developments in renewable energy technology have significantly reduced the cost of solar panel installation for residential properties.

### 2. scientific timeframes

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

happening a short time ago in history, which could still mean thousands of years.

For teachers: occurring within a relatively short period in geological or astronomical time, potentially spanning thousands or millions of years.

- The crater was caused by a recent meteor strike about ten thousand years ago.
- Geologists consider these volcanic deposits to be relatively recent, dating them to the late Pleistocene epoch.

### 3. computing history

noun · CEFR B2

a file or website that you have looked at or used lately.

For teachers: a recently accessed file, document, or application, typically appearing in a history list.

- I couldn't find the document, so I checked my recents in the menu.
- The application automatically populates the sidebar with your recents to allow for quicker navigation between active projects.

## Examples

- I saw a recent movie at the cinema last night.
- The company's recent success is due to a change in their marketing strategy.
- Despite recent advancements in renewable energy technology, the global economy remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels for industrial production.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.