recent

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin recēns (genitive recentis).

adj

1. Having happened a short while ago.
   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: rodents. 2013 May-June, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, archived from the original on 2016-02-22, page 193
2. Up-to-date; not old-fashioned or dated.
3. Having done something a short while ago that distinguishes them as what they are called.
   The cause has several hundred recent donors.
   I met three recent graduates at the conference.
4. (sciences) Particularly in geology, palaeontology, and astronomy: having occurred a relatively short time ago, but still potentially thousands or even millions of years ago.
   Finding it now means it was produced in more recent times, in astronomical terms. October 4 2020, Evan Gough, “We Now Have Proof a Supernova Exploded Perilously Close to Earth 2.5 Million Years Ago”, in Science Alert

noun

1. (computing, graphical user interface) A recently viewed or accessed item.
   Obviously, the first time you launch this app, your Recents list is empty. 2012, Jason R. Rich, Your iPad 2 at Work, page 308