recent
/ˈɹiː.sənt/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: recents
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Having happened a short while ago.
Adjective
Examples
Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts:
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Up-to-date; not old-fashioned or dated.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
A recently viewed or accessed item.
Noun
Examples
Obviously, the first time you launch this app, your Recents list is empty.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “recent” mean?
Having happened a short while ago.
Is “recent” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.