cycle

noun

ˈsī-kəl How to pronounce cycle (audio)
Definition of cyclenext
1
as in wheel
a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order the cycle of birth, growth, decline, and death that is experienced by all life forms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in months
a long or seemingly long period of time years, centuries, and cycles will pass before I budge on that issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in bike
a two-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by the use of pedals and steered through the use of handlebars a top-of-the-line cycle incorporating the latest technology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cycle Schumer, who has steered Senate Democrats since 2017, became liberals’ favorite punching bag this cycle, an avatar of everything wrong with a listless Democratic Party. — Philip Elliott, Time, 6 Nov. 2026 Jains observe Diwali as the day Lord Mahavira, the last of their great teachers, attained nirvana, or liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. — ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026 After sunset, the aircraft lives off those batteries until the sun comes back up, closing a full day-night cycle. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026 What's more, workers who are unemployed for extended periods risk falling into a self-perpetuating cycle, researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond wrote earlier this year. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cycle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cycle
  1. wheel
  2. forever
  3. bike
  4. circle
  5. long
  6. bicycle
  7. round
  8. age
Noun
  • Rush Creek Reserve is a dippable fondue-like wheel wrapped in spruce bark from Uplands in Dodgeville, WI.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This arrangement combines a larger front wheel for negotiating uneven surfaces with smaller overall proportions suited to tighter riding environments.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of wheel
Noun
  • There is a certain ease and flow to the conversation with your forevers.
    — Barbara Ellis, Denver Post, 17 May 2026
  • Miami trailed 1-0 fast, in the sixth minute, when the defense left Guilherme Biro unmarked for a downward header off a corner kick, gifting Biro the forever-history of the first goal in the new stadium.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of forever
Noun
  • People at the scene told Smith the cyclists were part of a group that regularly gathers for weekend bike rides.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The program includes teacher training and certification, an eight-lesson curriculum, 24 Strider balance-to-pedal bikes, pedal conversion kits, student helmets and an instructor bike.
    — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of bike
Noun
  • Dhillon, a Sikh who was born in India and immigrated to the United States as a child, was a prominent figure in conservative legal and political circles even before being tapped to her Justice Department position.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Immersive is easy to try out—just tap the circle icon at the top left of the rear display to toggle it.
    — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of circle
Noun
  • Von Der Meden finished the regular season 13-for-14 on field goals with a long of 53.
    — Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Teams prepare for the Broncos knowing second-and-long is trouble, but third-and-long is near certain death.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of long
Noun
  • An 11-year-old girl was struck by a vehicle while riding her bicycle, police said.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Down by your ankles are bicycle pedals desperately maintaining the argument that this belongs somewhere in the ebike family, while six inches above the bars is a touchscreen doing the same job as the TFT on a modern touring motorcycle.
    — Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of bicycle
Noun
  • The Senators’ most head-scratching trade of the summer, acquiring him for a 2027 sixth-round pick, has proved fruitless.
    — Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Davis voters appeared to favor Measure W in the first round of election results Tuesday night, a proposal that would allow construction of the 1,250-unit Willowgrove housing development on 234 acres north of East Covell Boulevard.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of round
Noun
  • For families Guests of all ages are welcome at The Shinmonzen, with a raft of amenities available for both children and babies, from baby cots, sterilizers, and strollers to kids’ seasonal welcome kits, pajamas, menus, games, books, and toys.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Foxx is already a seasoned father with two adult daughters, ages 32 and 18.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of age

Phrases Containing cycle

Browse Nearby Words

cybersurfers
cycle
cycles
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cycle. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cycle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cycle

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of valorous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All