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recent

/ˈɹi.sənt/
adjectivenoun

Recent meaning: something that happened a short while ago, or something up-to-date; RECENT scores 8 points in Scrabble.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Adjective 4 meanings

  1. Having happened a short while ago.

  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.”

  4. Particularly in geology, palaeontology, and astronomy: having occurred a relatively short time ago, but still potentially thousands or even millions of years ago.

Noun 1 meaning

  1. A recently viewed or accessed item.

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin recēns (genitive recentis).

Similar and opposite words

Similar
nudiustertiannouveau

RECENT is a familiar six-letter word with two everyday senses: new in time, and not old-fashioned. Its spelling also rearranges into CENTER and CENTRE, alongside the less familiar TENREC. For word games, the C is the key tile: it contributes three of RECENT’s eight Scrabble points, while each other letter contributes one.

RECENT at a glance

  • RECENT has six letters and the letters in alphabetical order are CEENRT.
  • Its Scrabble tile values add up to 8 points; C supplies 3 of them.
  • CENTER, CENTRE, and TENREC are its three anagrams.
  • DECENT and REGENT are two of its eight one-letter neighbours.

Recent meaning and everyday use

Recent usually means that something happened a short while ago: a recent event is one that took place not long ago. It can also mean up-to-date rather than dated, as in recent information or a recent design. The shared idea is newness, either in time or in style.

The word also appears in descriptions of people, such as someone who has recently taken on a role. That sense ties the label to an action done a short while ago. Keep the distinction clear: recent does not mean that something is happening right now, only that it is comparatively new.

Which words differ from RECENT by one letter?

Eight listed neighbours change just one letter: DECENT, REGENT, RESENT, REPENT, RELENT, RECANT, RECEPT, and RERENT. DECENT and RESENT are easy to recognize; RECEPT and RERENT are less familiar. Treat the set as a clue list, not a promise that every game accepts every entry.

RECENT shares the ending sound “ent” with twelve listed rhymes, including WENT, SENT, EVENT, and PRESENT. Those matches vary in length, so focus on the final sound rather than expecting every rhyme to match RECENT’s six-letter shape.

What is RECENT worth in Scrabble?

RECENT is worth 8 points before any board bonuses. The C is worth 3, and R, E, E, N, and T are each worth 1. That makes the C the only tile above one point; placing it on a premium letter square changes the total more than doing the same with an E.

Rhymes with recent

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest
  • DECENT9
  • REGENT7
  • RESENT6
  • REPENT8
  • RELENT6
  • RECANT8
  • RECEPT10
  • RERENT6

Questions people ask

What does recent mean?
Recent means having happened a short while ago, or being up-to-date rather than old-fashioned. A recent meeting happened not long ago; a recent design is current in style. The word can also describe someone who has done something fairly recently, tying the sense to a new action.
What are the anagrams of RECENT?
RECENT has three listed anagrams: CENTER, CENTRE, and TENREC. CENTER and CENTRE are familiar spelling variants, while TENREC is less common. The two spellings use the same six letters, but whether either is accepted depends on the word list used in your game.
How many points is RECENT worth in Scrabble?
RECENT is worth 8 points before board bonuses. Its C tile contributes 3 points, while R, E, E, N, and T contribute 1 point apiece. A premium letter square under C therefore adds more to the play than one under any of the other five tiles.

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