circulate
verb
cir·cu·late
ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt 
circulated; circulating
1
2
: to pass from person to person or place to place: such as
a
: to flow without obstruction
b
: to become well-known or widespread
rumors circulated through the town
c
: to go from group to group at a social gathering
d
: to come into the hands of readers
specifically
: to become sold or distributed
: to cause to circulate
Examples of circulate in a Sentence
Blood circulates through the body.
Steam circulates in the pipes.
A pump circulates the water through the filter.
Rumors are circulating around town.
The report circulated among the students.
Stories were circulated about mismanagement.
He is circulating a petition asking for a new election.
She circulated among her guests.
Recent Examples on the Web
Then finally, last month, reports of Chappell filming a new music video in New York began to circulate, followed by an official announcement weeks later that the song would finally arrive on the evening of Thursday, July 31, with an official video to follow Friday morning.
—
Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 6 Aug. 2025
Last week, video circulated of citizens at a local restaurant in Kansas City, confronting a group of ICE agents.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
As images of starving children in Gaza continue to circulate and the international outcry grows louder, a number of American rabbis used their pulpits to speak up about the humanitarian crisis, some with sorrow, others with moral urgency, and many with a sense that silence was no longer tenable.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
This summer, for example, word circulated that Xi is on the verge of being pushed out of office, allegedly elbowed aside by his predecessor, Hu Jintao, and his military chief, Zhang Youxia.
—Tyler Jost, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circulate
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Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 6 Aug. 2025
Last week, video circulated of citizens at a local restaurant in Kansas City, confronting a group of ICE agents.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
As images of starving children in Gaza continue to circulate and the international outcry grows louder, a number of American rabbis used their pulpits to speak up about the humanitarian crisis, some with sorrow, others with moral urgency, and many with a sense that silence was no longer tenable.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
This summer, for example, word circulated that Xi is on the verge of being pushed out of office, allegedly elbowed aside by his predecessor, Hu Jintao, and his military chief, Zhang Youxia.
—Tyler Jost, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circulate
Cite this Entry
“Circulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circulate. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
circulate
verb
cir·cu·late
ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt
circulated; circulating
1
: to move or cause to move in a circle or course
especially
: to follow a course that returns to the starting point
blood circulates through the body
2
: to pass or be passed from person to person or place to place
circulate a rumor
Medical Definition
circulate
intransitive verb
cir·cu·late
ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt
circulated; circulating
: to flow or be propelled naturally through a closed system of channels (as blood vessels)
blood circulates through the body
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