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

Bag The Smokery where the fireplace has been upcycled into a smokehouse and there is just one table for maximum intimacy. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026

Throughout 2025, Viktor&Rolf also continued its efforts to raise awareness of upcycling among younger generations through an annual educational program delivered at a school in Amsterdam. —Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 12 May 2026

For a Fanatics Super Bowl event, Hudson upcycled one of Belchick's old Patriots sweatshirts into a mini. —Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026

Neighborhoods like Wynwood and Coconut Grove are natural settings for upcycling and community swap events. —Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above