What does “recently” mean?
- 1
adverbnot long ago
I’ve recently started learning to cook.
Recently at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /ˈrisəntli/ · REE-sunt-lee
How to use “recently” correctly
Use “recently” with the present perfect (“I’ve recently moved”) or the past simple (“I recently moved”). “Lately” is mostly used with the present perfect.
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- lately
- not long ago
Word family
“recently” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- already adverbA2before now, or earlier than expected
- ever adverbA2at any time, used mostly in questions and negative sentences
- finally adverbA2after a long time or a lot of waiting
- once adverbA2one time only
- still adverbA2continuing until now and not finished
- suddenly adverbA2quickly and without warning
- yet adverbA2until now; used in questions and negatives
- again adverbA1one more time; another time