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

According to Atlas, upcycling and reimagining old clothing is an excellent fit for this adventurous and curious fire sign. —Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025

The Fancy Knit: Cavia Italian indie brand Cavia carved a niche for its colorful knitwear and upcycling roots. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025

Hydrogenolysis, one promising upcycling approach, uses hydrogen gas and a catalyst to break down polymers in plastics into liquid fuels for transportation and industry. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025

There should be upcycling and a proper recycling system. —Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upcycle

• cycle
• motorcycle
• recycle