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

Her own mother regularly re-wears pieces from her wardrobe, and previously upcycled her Alexander McQueen dress from the 2019 BAFTAs for the same event in 2023. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 28 July 2025

The used jeans are cleaned with Polygiene’s freshness technologies, repaired and upcycled by the brand to create unique bespoke items. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 July 2025

Certain species of hardwood trees were reused and upcycled into custom furniture specially designed for the resort in collaboration with Singapore craftsmen. —Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

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

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upcycle

• cycle
• motorcycle
• recycle