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 memory upcycle has only continued into 2026, and the company recorded 719% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter of 2026.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

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

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

However, a multi-year capital expenditure upcycle by Petronas is expected to begin in 2027, which is likely to benefit key names in the sector.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

“We recommend investors start positioning now for a 2027 upcycle, as the home builders typically move early on the first signs of a new cycle.”

From Barron's ● Mar. 4, 2026

UMS’s integrated systems segment is poised to benefit from the ongoing semiconductor upcycle, she adds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026

Maddie Biggs once used Tiktok for sharing what she'd baked, where she'd been on trips and how she'd upcycled the occasional bit of furniture.

From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2025

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

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

In a similar spirit of upcycling, his exhibition shows Rose Salane’s newest project from Pompeii featuring rocks and other ephemera taken from the historic site.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2026

Their work focuses on upcycling, a process that transforms discarded plastics into higher-value products rather than lower-grade materials.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 24, 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