circulate

verb

cir·​cu·​late ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce circulate (audio)
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 adjective
circulative adjective
circulator noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nadine Jarmon, the housing authority's executive director, circulated Southern Bancorp's commitment letter to board members of the housing authority as well as its nonprofit affiliate, the Central Arkansas Housing Corporation, on Thursday evening via email. Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 17 Nov. 2025 Volunteers would also circulate videos online, warn of reoccurring license plates or follow agents’ cars while honking horns. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 16 Nov. 2025 The facility is engineered to continuously circulate up to 30 grams of tritium in a 24-hour cycle and is licensed to expand operations to 100 grams. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Nov. 2025 Heading into BravoCon, rumors circulated that The Real Housewives of New York City was undergoing a cast shakeup, which would keep some newbies and bring back some of the original cast members. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 15 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for circulate

Word History

Etymology

Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare, from circulus

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of circulate was in 1603

Cite this Entry

“Circulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circulate. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

circulate

verb
cir·​cu·​late ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce circulate (audio)
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 adjective
circulator noun

Medical Definition

circulate

intransitive verb
cir·​cu·​late ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce circulate (audio)
circulated; circulating
: to flow or be propelled naturally through a closed system of channels (as blood vessels)
blood circulates through the body

More from Merriam-Webster on circulate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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