recursive

adjective

re·​cur·​sive ri-ˈkər-siv 

1

: of, relating to, or involving recursion

a recursive function in a computer program

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely

a recursive rule in a grammar

recursively adverb

recursiveness noun

Examples of recursive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tight loop between capital, asset issuing, and auction-as-legitimizing-engine echoed Polymarket’s recursive news-and-market-making cycle. — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Some analysts warn of a pathway called recursive self-improvement, in which AI becomes increasingly effective at training itself, eliciting a cycle of rapid advancement. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Both have begun to use their most sophisticated models to train the next generation, in a process known as recursive self-improvement. — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

The company, whose CEO Sam Altman recently supported calls for a development slowdown, focused especially on alignment research and recursive self-improvement. — Cj Haddad, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "recurring repeatedly," from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrere "to run back, run in the opposite direction, return" + -ive; in given senses as translation of German rekurrent or rekursiv — more at recur

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for recursive

• aversive
• coercive
• discursive
• dispersive
• immersive
• subversive
• cursive