in recent times

/ɪn ˈriːsənt taɪmz/

during the last period

In recent times, remote work has become much more common.

Over the last few years, working from home has increased significantly.

formal

during the period of time that has just passed

In recent times, climate change has become a major global concern.

Over the past few years, climate change has gained significant attention worldwide.

Artificial intelligence, in recent times, has transformed many industries.

AI has recently had a significant impact on various sectors.

Commonly used in formal writing or academic contexts to refer to events or changes that have occurred in the near past. Often interchangeable with 'recently' or 'lately', but may sound more formal or deliberate.

Collocations

in recent yearsduring the last few yearsin recent decadesover the past several decadesin recent historywithin the most recent period of recorded time

a period closer to now than 'recent times' but still in the past

in the last decadephrase

specifically referring to the past ten years

Pro Tip

Avoid redundancy

Do not pair 'in recent times' with 'now' or 'present' (e.g., 'in recent times now'). The phrase already implies a connection to the present.

Gold Rule

Formal tone

Use 'in recent times' in formal writing (academic, reports, essays) rather than casual conversation. For everyday speech, prefer 'recently' or 'lately'.

Word Origin

The phrase combines the preposition 'in' (from Old English 'in') with 'recent' (from Latin 'recens', meaning 'fresh' or 'new') and 'times' (plural of 'time', from Old English 'tīma'). The structure has been used in English since at least the 17th century to refer to a period close to the present.

Usage Notes

This phrase is typically used in formal or written contexts rather than casual speech. It emphasizes the passage of time more than 'recently' or 'lately', which focus more on the present moment. Avoid overusing it in essays as it can sound repetitive; vary with synonyms like 'of late' or 'in the past few years'.

Word Breakdown

during the course of

preposition

recent

near to or not long before the present time

adjective

times

a period or era

noun

English Dictionary

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