RECENT' (5 letters) The term 'COMPARATIVELY RECENT' can be broken down into two words, 'NEWER' and 'RECENT'. The word 'NEWER' means something that has been recently created or has come into existence. It is usually used to describe something that is not very old. The word 'RECENT' means something that has happened or occurred in the past few days, weeks, or months. Together, the two words form a phrase that describes something that has happened or come into existence within the past few years.