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

As co-founder of Jason Hyde jewelry, Deborah Singer explained, people are often surprised to learn that each piece begins as plastic pulled from the ocean, transformed through upcycling. —Najahe Sherman, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026

As co-founder of Jason Hyde Jewelry, Deborah Singer explained, people are often surprised to learn that each piece begins as plastic pulled from the ocean, transformed through upcycling. —Najahe Sherman, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026

Old Tires An old tire can make a fantastic DIY raised garden bed, says Emily Auffrey, a home and garden DIY content creator who regularly upcycles household items. —Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026

The ream claims the process is effective across multiple plastic types, including difficult-to-recycle materials such as nylon and polyurethane, marking a significant advance over existing upcycling methods that are largely limited to PET. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upcycle

• cycle
• motorcycle
• recycle