recent
UK: ˈriːsnt | US: ˈriːsnt
adj. happening or beginning not long ago
adj. modern or up-to-date
adj. (geology) relating to the Holocene epoch
The word "recent" originates from Latin recens (genitive recentis), meaning "fresh, new, young." It combines re- (indicating repetition or intensity) and -cens (from kainos, Proto-Indo-European for "new"). The term entered Middle English via Old French recent, retaining its core sense of temporal newness. Over time, it expanded to describe modernity in broader contexts, including geology (e.g., "recent deposits").
The museum added recent artifacts to its collection.
Her recent promotion surprised everyone.
Recent studies confirm the theory.
The book covers recent advances in technology.
This rock layer formed during the recent epoch.