re·cy·cle
(ˌ)rē-ˈsī-kəl 
recycled; recycling; recycles
1
: to pass again through a series of changes or treatments: such as
a
: to process (something, such as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use
b
c
: to reuse or make (a substance) available for reuse for biological activities through natural processes of biochemical degradation or modification
green plants recycling the residue of forest fires
recycle ADP back to ATP
2
: to adapt to a new use : alter
3
: to bring back : reuse
recycles a number of good anecdotes—
Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry4
: to make ready for reuse
a plan to recycle vacant tenements
5
: to reuse (money) by investing especially in an area or enterprise that will allow the investment to return as new profits
recycle petrodollars
1
: to return to an earlier point in a countdown
2
: to return to an original condition so that operation can begin again
—used of an electronic device
3
: to process materials or substances (such as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use
As a rule, Welch does not recycle. Its roadsides are littered with paper bags from the town's half-dozen fast-food outlets.
Examples of recycle in a Sentence
Verb
They're studying various ways to recycle garbage into fuel.
The doormat is made from recycled tires.
Town residents are required to recycle cans and bottles.
We make efforts to recycle.
The author recycles a familiar story in her latest novel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Having a global standard will allow countries to work together along the plastic waste chain to promote a more circular system of reuse and recycling at every stage of life for plastics.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 16 July 2025
The practical answer is to recycle materials, recover rare earth metals and re-use parts wherever possible.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for recycle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Created at manufacture, this immutable record of ownership and service history authenticates items for resale, dismantles counterfeit markets and provides auditable proof of recycling.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Having a global standard will allow countries to work together along the plastic waste chain to promote a more circular system of reuse and recycling at every stage of life for plastics.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025
Noun
This expands on an existing partnership with Redwood Materials, which the companies announced in May 2024 to recycle production scrap from two Ultium Cells battery plants, in Warren, Ohio, and Spring Hill, Tennessee.
—Jackie Charniga, Freep.com, 16 July 2025
The practical answer is to recycle materials, recover rare earth metals and re-use parts wherever possible.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for recycle
Cite this Entry
“Recycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recycle. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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