WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•cent•ly /ˈrisəntli/USA pronunciation adv.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- happening or done a short while ago:We recently returned home.
re•cent /ˈrisənt/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- occurring, appearing, or starting a short while ago:Recent events suggest that peace is at hand.
re•cent
(rē′sənt),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
re′cen•cy, re′cent•ness, n.
re′cent•ly, adv.
- of late occurrence, appearance, or origin;
lately happening, done, made, etc.:recent events; a recent trip. - not long past:in recent years.
- of or belonging to a time not long past.
- 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.
- GeologyAlso called Holocene. (cap.)the Recent Epoch or Series.
- Latin recent- (stem of recēns) fresh, new
- 1525–35
re′cent•ly, adv.
- 1. fresh, new. See modern.
- 1. early, old.
'recently' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
almuce
- aurochs
- baby
- blackfish
- ceramic oxide
- clean
- dodo
- emergent
- eulogy
- initiate
- kelt
- last
- late
- latterly
- -ly
- moa
- modern
- necrology
- neophyte
- new
- newborn
- newcomer
- new-found
- newly
- newlywed
- nouveau
- nouveau riche
- now
- perp walk
- postmortem
- quagga
- redfish
- revival
- shotten
- squab
- start up
- unicorn
- warm
- weanling
- antiquer
- apartmentize
- arch
- arriviste
- bald eagle
- beginner's luck
- cahow
- caller
- callow
- cannibalism
- cast