upcycle

American  

[uhp-sahy-kuhl] / ˈʌpˌsaɪ kəl /

verb (used with object)

upcycled, upcycling

1. to process (used goods or waste material) so as to produce something that is often better than the original.

   I upcycled a stained tablecloth into curtains.

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verb (used without object)

upcycled, upcycling

1. to process goods or material so as to produce something that is often better than the original.

   Several new companies whose purpose is to upcycle have sprung up recently.

noun

1. Economics. a period or cycle during which business activity or profitability is at a high point.

   The whole industry has entered an upcycle.

Other Word Forms

• upcycler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of upcycle

First recorded in 1990–95; up + (re)cycle

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upcycle upcycled upcycling

The current upcycle for dynamic random-access memory is in its 12th quarter, he noted, while in 2014 and 2018 it lasted eight to nine quarters.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026

"The students wanted to upcycle clothes, make it unique for them, and save it from landfill."

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

Its revenue growth is expected to quicken in 2027-2028 at 50% per year, driven by China’s memory makers’ capacity expansion upcycle in coming 3-5 years amid the global memory shortage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026

However, Chatterjee argues that Seagate and Western Digital are taking an approach that could prolong the hard-drive upcycle and justifies a sustained higher valuation.

From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026

The bank also views Vietnam as a secondary beneficiary of the upcycle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 13, 2026

King Charles, who became patron of the RHS in 2024, and the Queen presented awards including to a display called The Queen Bee made from upcycled containers – with tin can bees.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Yasmine Auquier Buron, co-founder of Rive Droite, had a corner in BHV where the brand sold bags made from recycled and upcycled materials since 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2025

Olwande Akoth, a designer showcasing her upcycled kimonos at the fashion show, once traded in second-hand bales but often felt disheartened by their poor quality.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2025

Each fragrance is infused with three natural ingredients — the synthetic molecules of aldehydes, alcohol from upcycled carbon emissions and water — to reach the “highest degree of olfactory clarity and expression.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2025

It’s important to note that our milk is made of upcycled pecan pieces.

From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2024

It wasn’t long before the upcycling duo opened a vintage shop in North Hollywood named Yes Baby!

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

Reformation, a top retailer with roots in upcycling vintage items, has expanded its “preloved” section, where it sells garb from brands including Prada and Bebe alongside its own styles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

The study, "Remediation and upcycling of microplastics by algae," was published in Nature Communications.

From Science Daily ● May 12, 2026

Gikomba Runway Edition brought together young, underground Kenyan designers and stylists for the first time, including 25-year-old "upcycling" specialist Morgan Azedy.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2025

The council said the event would include recycling games, upcycling and crafts between 11:00 BST and 16:00.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2025