recursive

adjective

re·​cur·​sive ri-ˈkər-siv 

1

: of, relating to, or involving recursion

a recursive function in a computer program

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely

a recursive rule in a grammar

recursively adverb

recursiveness noun

Examples of recursive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The recursive design of the can is a delight. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025

Slop threatens to leach actual meaning out of the internet by creating feedback loops of recursive information. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025

Enter eigenvector centrality, a mathematical measure that captures the recursive nature of influence. —Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2025

The problem with Destiny now is The Portal, and what the Portal represents, a never-ending power climb that uses 95% old content and is a recursive loop that has become nearly the entirety of the game. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "recurring repeatedly," from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrere "to run back, run in the opposite direction, return" + -ive; in given senses as translation of German rekurrent or rekursiv — more at recur

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for recursive

• aversive
• coercive
• discursive
• dispersive
• immersive
• subversive
• cursive