re·cy·cle
(ˌ)rē-ˈsī-kəl 
recycled; recycling; recycles
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
b
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 anecdotes—
Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry4
: 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
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.
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
Tim Clark, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
The company had met its zero-waste promise by the end of 2021, with its packaging fully recycled, recyclable or reusable.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 May 2025
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2025
Earlier this month, the company presented data from its first clinical trial, in which its B cells were used to treat a genetic disorder called mucopolysaccharidosis type I. Patients with this disease aren’t producing a protein the body uses to break up and recycle sugars called GAGS.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recycle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
With 430 million tons of plastic waste generated annually and less than 10% of it recycled, the plastic crisis is out of control.
—Tim Clark, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
The company had met its zero-waste promise by the end of 2021, with its packaging fully recycled, recyclable or reusable.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 1 May 2025
Noun
Currently, Arizona and Nevada recycle more than half of their wastewater, the researchers found.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2025
Earlier this month, the company presented data from its first clinical trial, in which its B cells were used to treat a genetic disorder called mucopolysaccharidosis type I. Patients with this disease aren’t producing a protein the body uses to break up and recycle sugars called GAGS.
—Alex Knapp, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for recycle
Cite this Entry
“Recycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recycle. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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