recently
REE-suhnt-lee
Recently (adv) means a short time ago, or in the near past. Example: “Have you seen any good films recently?”
adv
1
A short time ago, or in the near past.
"Have you seen any good films recently?"
"My recently published book about the life stories of recently-arrived immigrants."
"I recently moved to a new apartment."
"Prices have recently gone up across the board."
"The Japanese Archipelago, fringing the eastern edge of Asia, has a rich avifauna, including what is probably the rarest bird in the world - the Toki or Japanese Crested Ibis, and one of the most recently discovered birds - the Okinawa Rail."
— A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan, Tokyo: Kodansha International (1982)
How to use recently
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot long ago; lately.
Common pairings
recently released
until recently
recently discovered
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more recently
- Superlative
- most recently
Fill the gap
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Have you seen any good films _____?
Etymology
From recent plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for recently
gently
fluently
urgently
silently
intently
patently
decently
currently
fervently
patiently
evidently
presently
See all rhymes for recently →
Frequently asked questions
What does “recently” mean?
The word “recently” means a short time ago, or in the near past. In plain terms, not long ago; lately.
How do you pronounce “recently”?
“Recently” is pronounced REE-suhnt-lee (/ˈɹi.sənt.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “recently” in a sentence?
Here is “recently” used in a sentence: “I recently moved to a new apartment.”
What is another word for “recently”?
Words with a similar meaning to “recently” include as of late, freshly, just now, just then, late and lately.
What is the opposite of “recently”?
The opposite of “recently” — its antonyms — are long ago, long since, oldly and soon.
What part of speech is “recently”?
“Recently” is an adverb.
Is “recently” a common word?
“Recently” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between 'recently' and 'lately'?
Both point to the near past, and they often overlap. 'Recently' usually marks a single, finished event — 'she recently moved.' 'Lately' tends to describe an ongoing situation or repeated pattern up to now — 'I've been tired lately.' 'Recently' suits completed actions, while 'lately' fits continuing ones.
What is the opposite of 'recently'?
There's no exact single opposite, but 'long ago,' 'formerly,' and 'in the distant past' express the reverse idea — something that happened far back in time rather than a short while ago. 'A long time ago' is the most natural everyday phrase people reach for.
What is an example of 'recently'?
'They recently opened a new branch downtown' places the opening a short time before now. It answers 'when?' with a vague but near timeframe: 'I saw him recently,' or 'Prices have risen recently.' It signals the event is fresh without giving an exact date.
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