upcycle
verb
up·cy·cle
ˈəp-ˌsī-kəl 
upcycled; upcycling
: 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
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
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
Meanwhile, her Instagram following continued to grow, and other brands emailed her project inquiries—a video series with Depop about her work, for example, and an opportunity to teach an upcycling workshop with footwear retail giant Foot Locker.
—Corey Buhay, Outside, 15 Sep. 2025
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Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 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
Meanwhile, her Instagram following continued to grow, and other brands emailed her project inquiries—a video series with Depop about her work, for example, and an opportunity to teach an upcycling workshop with footwear retail giant Foot Locker.
—Corey Buhay, Outside, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upcycle
Cite this Entry
“Upcycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upcycle. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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