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 self-torturing helices of thought twisting inside the young minds on the courts are no less fraught than the recursive neuroses tormenting the addicts down the hill. —Hermione Hoby, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

Over time, the argument goes, this recursive loop would narrow diversity and innovation. —Ahmed Elgammal, Fortune, 22 Jan. 2026

This recursive development cycle demonstrates AI tools creating their own successors and may indicate widening capability gaps between organizations that deploy agents internally versus those that do not. —Janakiram Msv, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Stories about people or countries in conflict become abstract, buried under a pile of memes and recursive references that exist for little more than scroll-by entertainment. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026

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