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 paper outlines potential routes like recursive self-improvement and large agent collectives. —Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Taken far enough, and with enough compute, the blog post said such an approach could lead to recursive self-improvement—an AI system capable of autonomously designing, building, and improving its own successors. —Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 9 June 2026

Granted, at nearly three hours in length, the film is also incredibly demanding — especially its initial half, which, by its nature, becomes a recursive cycle of directionless youth that Rimbaud struggles to break. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 June 2026

Ultimately, even if the most fantastical dreams of recursive self-improvement turn out to be little more than a marketing ploy, marginal improvements in automating research are likely to further accelerate the pace of AI development. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 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