circulate

verb

cir·​cu·​late ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt 

circulated; circulating

intransitive verb

1

: to move in a circle, circuit, or orbit

especially : to follow a course that returns to the starting point

blood circulates through the body

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

transitive verb

: to cause to circulate

circulatable

ˈsər-kyə-ˌlā-tə-bəl 

adjective

circulative

ˈsər-kyə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

circulator

ˈsər-kyə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• broadcast
• disseminate
• propagate
• spread

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

That figure has been circulating in the financial press for the past week, engendering conversation—and some dismay—online. —Byalicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024

The group circulated through a number of drummers prior to Starr, but Best stuck around longer than most and played with them for two years. —Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

The photograph, taken by Ukraine’s state emergency services, has circulated widely in Ukraine — and has been held up as a tragic symbol of the terrible toll exacted on civilians by Russia’s war. —Constant Méheut Oksana Parafeniuk, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024

In recent days, for instance, a message circulated online warning people to turn off their cellphones and other devices before midnight ahead of the eclipse, warning of powerful radiation and cosmic rays. —Bill Chappell, NPR, 8 Apr. 2024

Similar posts also circulated widely on Instagram and X, formerly Twitter. —Joedy McCreary, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

Related Articles Prop 1: Voters pass measure pushed by Gov. Newsom to tackle homelessness crisis in razor-thin win Today, Think Long and the Stanford team are circulating a proposal to funders to apply Deliberative Polling to the measures this November. —Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024

Rumors soon circulated, speculating that the unpopular duke had murdered the king, perhaps to ensure the ascension of the more malleable Charles. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

Conversely at the local level, if misinformation about a down-ballot candidate is circulating on social media, there won’t likely be anyone with the same influence to demand its removal in time to mitigate harm. —Meg Little Reilly, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare, from circulus

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids 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

circulative

-ˌlāt-iv 

adjective

circulator

-ˌlāt-ər 

noun

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