INDEX:
1. only a short time ago
2. happening over a period of time up to the present
3. words for describing an event that has happened recently
4. words for describing news or information that is recent
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ PAST
↑ BEFORE
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1. only a short time ago
▷ recently /ˈriːs ə ntli/ [adverb]
if something happened recently, it happened a short time before now, especially a few days or weeks ago :
▪ The President has recently returned from a five day tour of South America.
only recently
▪ a new species of plant that was only recently discovered in southern Brazil
until recently
▪ He lived in Boston until quite recently.
▪ Until recently, commercial fishermen had been allowed to shoot sea lions if they tried to steal their catch.
very recently
▪ ‘When did she go back to Italy?’ ‘Oh, very recently - just a couple of days ago.’
as recently as
used when something happened surprisingly recently
▪ As recently as the mid sixties, Nelson Rockefeller was considered unsuitable for the presidency because he had once been divorced.
recently discovered/completed/built etc
▪ a recently published textbook
▪ the recently industrialized countries of Southeast Asia
▷ not long ago /nɒt ˌlɒŋ əˈgəʊǁ-ˌlɔːŋ-/ [adverb]
in the recent past :
▪ Not long ago, computers were crude, unreliable machines, used by only a few experts.
▪ Not long ago I asked a friend what her children gave her for her birthday. ‘Peace,’ she said. ‘They went out for the day.’
not so long ago
▪ There was a time not so long ago when everyone felt confident about investing in property.
▷ a short time ago /ə ˌʃɔːʳt ˈtaɪm əˌgəʊ/ [adverb]
very recently :
▪ So what is the government’s reaction to this news? A short time ago our political correspondent Jon Lander spoke to the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook.
▪ The red wolf survived until a short time ago in east Texas, but is now believed extinct in the wild.
only/just a short time ago
▪ Seeing the tramp, Thomas remembered how he himself had been poor only a short time ago.
▷ newly /ˈnjuːliǁˈnuːli/ [adverb]
newly formed/created/appointed/married etc
formed, married etc very recently, especially during the last few days or weeks :
▪ A newly married couple have moved into the house next door.
▪ The group meets regularly in the newly built Chinese community center.
▪ Mr Chandler is now director of the company’s newly formed publishing division.
▷ freshly /ˈfreʃli/ [adverb]
freshly cut/cooked/made/painted etc
cut, cooked etc a very short time ago, especially during the last few minutes or hours :
▪ There’s a pot of freshly made coffee on the kitchen table.
▪ Add one clove of freshly crushed garlic.
▪ Someone had placed a bunch of freshly cut roses on her desk.
▪ At the beginning of term the school looked bright and clean with its freshly painted walls and polished floors.
▷ the other day /ði ˌʌðəʳ ˈdeɪ/ [adverb] spoken
use this to say that something happened or you did something recently :
▪ I met Lucy the other day outside Budgens.
▪ Well, did my dad tell you what happened to me in the car the other day?
just the other day
▪ I can’t believe this weather - it was freezing just the other day!
▷ a short/little while ago /ə ˌʃɔːʳt, ˌlɪtl ˈwaɪl əˌgəʊ/ [adverb]
a short time ago, usually not more than a few hours :
▪ ‘Is there a Mrs Lambert staying at the hotel?’ ‘Yes, she checked in a short while ago.’
just a short/little while ago
▪ Bobby’s attorney gave me a call just a little while ago, to talk about the terms of the will.
▷ a little while back /ə ˌlɪtl waɪl ˈbæk/ [adverb] informal
fairly recently, usually a few weeks or months ago :
▪ I broke my leg a little while back when I fell off a horse.
2. happening over a period of time up to the present
▷ recently /ˈriːs ə ntli/ [adverb]
use this to say that something has been happening for a few weeks or months, and it is still happening now :
▪ Her school work has been much better recently.
▪ I haven’t been feeling well recently.
just recently
▪ Just recently I’ve been thinking about changing my job.
more recently
▪ More recently, banks have offered customers the opportunity to change to PC or telephone banking.
▷ lately /ˈleɪtli/ [adverb]
in the recent past until now, especially during the weeks or days closest to now :
▪ The company went through a bad time last year, but lately things have been improving.
▪ I’ve been really busy lately, so I haven’t been out much.
▪ I don’t know what’s come over Angela lately -- she’s so moody.
▷ in the last/past few weeks/months etc /ɪn ðə ˌlɑːst, ˌpɑːst fjuː ˈwiːksǁ-ˌlæst, ˌpæst-/ [adverb]
during the weeks or months closest to now :
▪ Things have changed quite dramatically in the past few months.
▪ I’ve been thinking about Kevin a lot in the last few days. I wonder how he’s getting on?
▪ In the past few years, 30,000 of these high-rise housing units have been torn down.
▷ in recent weeks/months etc /ɪn ˌriːs ə nt ˈwiːks/ [adverb] formal
during the weeks or months closest to now - used especially in news reports :
▪ In recent months there have been rumors of at least two attempted coups.
▪ Illicit drug use - notably marijuana - has been increasing in recent years, especially among the young.
3. words for describing an event that has happened recently
▷ recent /ˈriːs ə nt/ [adjective usually before noun]
use this about something that happened recently, especially a few days or weeks ago. :
▪ He hadn’t completely recovered from his recent illness.
▪ A recent report said that small amounts of alcohol are good for the health.
▪ The team returned to a heroes’ welcome after their recent success in the European Championships.
▷ latest /ˈleɪtɪst, ˈleɪtəst/ [adjective usually before noun]
someone’s latest book, record, film etc is the one produced most recently; someone’s latest action is the one that happened most recently :
▪ In her latest movie she plays an LA cop.
▪ The latest attempt to reach a peace settlement ended in failure.
the latest
the latest one
▪ This is the latest in a series of Mafia killings.
4. words for describing news or information that is recent
▷ latest /ˈleɪtɪst, ˈleɪtəst/ [adjective usually before noun]
the latest news, information etc is the most recent news, information etc :
▪ Tune into Radio 5 Live for the latest news and sport.
▪ For the latest information visit the German National Tourist Office website at htt//www.germany-tourism.de.
▪ The girls spent the evening catching up on the latest gossip.
the latest
the latest news
▪ Have you heard the latest? Nicky’s getting married.
▷ up-to-date /ˌʌp tə ˈdeɪt◂/ [adjective]
up-to-date information is the most recent and correct information :
▪ Is this map up-to-date? It doesn’t seem to show the new road.
▪ Foreign embassies or consulates in the United States can provide up-to-date information on their countries.
▷ up-to-the-minute /ˌʌp tə ðə ˈmɪnə̇t◂/ [adjective only before noun]
up-to-the-minute news or information is the most recent news or information about something that is likely to change very quickly all the time :
▪ Visit www.sportsfanatic.com for up-to-the-minute results and sports news.
▪ A computer link with Wall Street gives traders up-to-the-minute market data worldwide.