"recently" vs "in recent years"

Question

"recently" vs "in recent years"

Both 'recently' and 'in recent years' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'Recently' refers to a short period of time that has just passed, while 'in recent years' indicates a longer period of time in the past. Therefore, the choice between the two depends on the specific timeframe you want to convey.

Last Updated: March 30, 2024

Use 'recently' when you want to indicate that something happened not long ago or in the immediate past.

Examples:

I saw her recently at the grocery store.
He recently started a new job.
Have you read any good books recently?
She recently moved to a new city.
The company recently launched a new product.

Alternatives:

lately
of late
in the past few days
in the last few weeks
in the near past

Use 'in recent years' when you want to talk about events or changes that have occurred over a longer period of time, typically within the last few years.

Examples:

In recent years, technology has advanced rapidly.
Crime rates have decreased in recent years.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in sustainability.
In recent years, the company has expanded its operations globally.
In recent years, there has been a shift towards remote work.

Alternatives:

in the past few years
over the last few years
in the near past
in the recent past
in the last few years

Answer 1

recently

The term 'recently' is a common adverb used to refer to a short period of time that has just passed.

Answer 2

in recent years

The phrase 'in recent years' is used to refer to a period of time in the past that is not too distant.

"recently" vs "in recent years"

recently

in recent years

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