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

Munnichs said the community appreciates repair, but mostly traditional methods such as sashiko or upcycling old pairs into something new. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Feb. 2026

These workshops last several weeks and can include everything from upcycling a garment students thrifted to visiting Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum and picking an instrument to then learn. —Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026

House Mix upcycled a bunch of dollar store vases with some pink paint to create this pretty floral display. —Nomita Vaish-Taylor, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026

Whether that’s using it to prepare garden beds, create new garden beds, or even control weeds and pests, upcycling this household staple can help you out in the garden in more ways than one. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upcycle

• cycle
• motorcycle
• recycle