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
This originally emerged , in part, through the visual languages circulating across Latin America and small pockets on the internet, the aesthetic speaks to how women have long been merging disparate style worlds into something entirely new.
—
Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Within hours of Bell’s selection earlier this week, conservative higher-education activists began circulating opposition research on social media highlighting Alabama’s diversity recruitment efforts, antiracism initiatives and campus inclusion programs under Bell’s leadership.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
The Maryland man accused of throwing a beer keg through the front window of a popular cupcake bakery turned himself in after his own father recognized him from surveillance footage circulated by police, court documents reveal.
—Julia Bonavita , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
The clip has since circulated widely on social media, where reactions have been sharply divided.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for circulate
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Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Within hours of Bell’s selection earlier this week, conservative higher-education activists began circulating opposition research on social media highlighting Alabama’s diversity recruitment efforts, antiracism initiatives and campus inclusion programs under Bell’s leadership.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
The Maryland man accused of throwing a beer keg through the front window of a popular cupcake bakery turned himself in after his own father recognized him from surveillance footage circulated by police, court documents reveal.
—Julia Bonavita , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
The clip has since circulated widely on social media, where reactions have been sharply divided.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for circulate
Cite this Entry
“Circulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circulate. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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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