in the last few hours

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'in the last few hours' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a period of time within the past few hours. For example: I have been working on this project for the last few hours and I am almost finished.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Furthermore, Luis wants to thank the Uruguayan population for its support in the last few hours".

The Guardian - Sport

"I know that the website in the last few hours has gone bonkers".

The Guardian - Sport

I do not know what has happened to me in the last few hours".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the last few hours there have been talks of another ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.

Independent

He added that rockets had been fired from Qana "in the last few hours" before the air strike.

The Guardian

And that is what I have heard a number of his advisers say publicly in the last few hours.

The New York Times

"Members in the last few hours really turned around and understood how important this was," he added.

The New York Times

"Brave, brave Paula Radcliffe" has been worn a bit thin in the last few hours too, dontcha think?

The Guardian - Sport

In the last few hours before he died, Simon Ajok seemed to explode -- first in blood, then in aggravation.

The New York Times - Magazine

The 2008 queen and court were in the front row, wearing sunglasses and looking untouchably glamorous in the last few hours of their eminence.

The New Yorker

Several times in the last few hours I have seen the path of the 1999 storm overlaid with the path of this one.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the last few hours" to provide context for immediate or recent events, especially when reporting news or updates. For example, "The stock market has been volatile in the last few hours."

Common error

While "in the last few hours" is acceptable in many contexts, overuse in formal academic writing can make your writing sound less precise. Consider specifying the time more exactly when possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the last few hours" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause by specifying a timeframe. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage. It indicates when an action occurred, providing temporal context to the statement. Ludwig examples show its frequent use in news and reports.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the last few hours" is a grammatically sound and very common adverbial phrase used to specify a recent timeframe. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is particularly prevalent in news and media contexts, serving to provide immediacy and relevance to information. While appropriate for general and professional use, more formal academic and scientific writing may benefit from more precise time indicators. Alternatives such as "recently" or "in recent hours" can also be used depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in the past few hours

Very close in meaning, emphasizing that the time is behind the current moment.

within the last few hours

Focuses on the limit or boundary of the time frame.

in recent hours

Similar meaning, but slightly more formal and emphasizes the recency.

over the last few hours

Suggests a duration or process occurring throughout the time frame.

in the most recent hours

Emphasizes the immediacy and currency of the timeframe.

during the last few hours

Similar to "over", but can imply a specific event happening within that time.

just hours ago

More concise, emphasizing the short time since the event.

recently

Implies something happened not long ago; more general than specifying hours.

a few hours back

More informal and conversational.

earlier today

Broader, refers to any time earlier in the same day.

FAQs

How can I use "in the last few hours" in a sentence?

You can use "in the last few hours" to describe events that have recently occurred. For example, "In the last few hours, the storm has intensified significantly."

What can I say instead of "in the last few hours"?

You can use alternatives like "recently", "in recent hours", or "in the past few hours" depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to say "in the past few hours" or "in the last few hours"?

Both "in the past few hours" and "in the last few hours" are grammatically correct and generally interchangeable. The choice often depends on personal preference or stylistic considerations.

When should I use "in the last few hours" versus providing a specific time?

Use "in the last few hours" when the exact timing is not crucial, or when referring to a series of events over a short period. If precision is needed, specify the time (e.g., "between 2 PM and 5 PM").