circulate

1 of 2

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

circulator

2 of 2

noun

cir·​cu·​la·​tor ˈsər-kyə-ˌlā-tər 

plural -s

: one that circulates:

a

obsolete : mountebank, quack

b

: gossip, scandalmonger

c

: a machine for circulating fluids or heating by convection

d

: a worker in a copper refinery who maintains circulation in electrolysis tanks and removes copper incrustations

Synonyms of circulate

Verb

• disseminate
• propagate
• spread

Examples of circulate in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Russian Telegram Russian social media has been circulating images of a Ukrainian drone bomb which is square with a metal point like the ground spike for a fence post. —David Hambling, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Rumors circulate among American settlers that Mexican authorities plan to expel them. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 12 June 2026

The approval comes as CATS has drawn scrutiny after a video circulating online showed a man with a knife on a light rail train. —Dj Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 12 June 2026

The audio was widely circulated on social media. —Adam Thompson, CBS News, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare, from circulus

Noun

Latin, peddler, mountebank, from circulatus (past participle of circulari to go around) + -or

First Known Use

Verb

1603, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for circulate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

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