recycle

1 of 2

verb

re·​cy·​cle (ˌ)rē-ˈsī-kəl How to pronounce recycle (audio)
recycled; recycling; recycles

transitive verb

1
: to pass again through a series of changes or treatments: such as
a
: to process (something, such as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use
c
: to reuse or make (a substance) available for reuse for biological activities through natural processes of biochemical degradation or modification
green plants recycling the residue of forest fires
recycle ADP back to ATP
2
: to adapt to a new use : alter
3
: to bring back : reuse
recycles a number of good anecdotesLarry McMurtry
4
: to make ready for reuse
a plan to recycle vacant tenements
5
: to reuse (money) by investing especially in an area or enterprise that will allow the investment to return as new profits
recycle petrodollars

intransitive verb

1
: to return to an earlier point in a countdown
2
: to return to an original condition so that operation can begin again
used of an electronic device
3
: to process materials or substances (such as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use
As a rule, Welch does not recycle. Its roadsides are littered with paper bags from the town's half-dozen fast-food outlets.
recyclable adjective or noun
recycler noun

recycle

2 of 2

noun

: the process of recycling

Examples of recycle in a Sentence

Verb They're studying various ways to recycle garbage into fuel. The doormat is made from recycled tires. Town residents are required to recycle cans and bottles. We make efforts to recycle. The author recycles a familiar story in her latest novel.
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.
Verb
The rules also leave open the possibility of using chemical or alternative recycling as a method for dealing with plastics that can’t be recycled via mechanical means, said people representing environmental, recycling and waste hauling companies and organizations. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025 Maguire got booked for a faint tug on his fellow centre-back, who had tumbled in the box in a similar scenario to win his team a foul and stop United from recycling the ball. Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
These are the toughest plastics to recycle and most likely to be excluded in your local recycling program: Symbol 3 – Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, found in pipes, shower curtains and some food packaging. Alex Jordan, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025 Cambium’s technology helps find, recycle and then deliver the wood across the United States and to parts of Canada. Diana Olick, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recycle

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1925, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recycle was in 1925

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recycle. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

recycle

verb
re·​cy·​cle
(ˈ)rē-ˈsī-kəl
: to process (as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain materials for human use

More from Merriam-Webster on recycle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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