upcycle

verb

up·​cy·​cle ˈəp-ˌsī-kəl 

upcycled; upcycling

transitive verb

: to recycle (something) in such a way that the resulting product is of a higher value than the original item : to create an object of greater value from (a discarded object of lesser value)

The line upcycles single-use plastic bags that are cleaned and brought in from Bali, Indonesia, and parts of California for use as the main material in the shoes. In the company's first year more than 175,000 plastic bags were reused to create footwear and accessories.

—Melissa Magsaysay

upcycling noun

Examples of upcycle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Everything in this hotel has meaning: The material in the colorful carpets comes from a local studio that upcycles wool, silk and cashmere. —Katharina Kotrba, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

One fashion designer is turning the concept of accessibility on its head by upcycling a dress and returning it to Goodwill for a new owner to uncover 19 Comments Evan Hirsch bought a $6 dress from Goodwill to give it a one-of-a-kind makeover. —Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Takashi Murakami has teamed with Japanese designer Yuta Hosokawa, who is behind cult upcycling label Readymade, on a spring 2026 capsule collection unveiled during Paris men’s fashion week. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 27 June 2025

Through upcycling Ives crafts garments that center Black women—not as muses, but as collaborators and cultural architects. —Essence, 16 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upcycle

• cycle
• motorcycle
• recycle