recursive

adjective

re·cur·sive ri-ˈkər-siv

: of, relating to, or involving recursion

a recursive function in a computer program

: of, relating to, or constituting a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely

a recursive rule in a grammar

recursively adverb

recursiveness noun

Examples of recursive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

OpenAI’s reasoning models include a recursive loop that refines their outputs during inference. —

Craig S. Smith, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025 Proof Aggregation Through a process of recursive aggregation, multiple zk-proofs are compressed into a single, compact proof. —

Ayush Gupta, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 By using recursive verification and Merkle aggregation, thousands of computations can be compacted into a single proof. —

Ayush Gupta, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 Aschenbrenner’s startling thesis about exponentially accelerating AI progress rests on one core premise: that AI will soon become powerful enough to carry out AI research itself, leading to recursive self-improvement and runaway superintelligence. —

Rob Toews, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for recursive

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "recurring repeatedly," from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrere "to run back, run in the opposite direction, return" + -ive; in given senses as translation of German rekurrent or rekursiv — more at recur

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of recursive was in 1934

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