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.

---

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

“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

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 13, 2026

“We are still in the early-mid stages of an abnormally long semiconductor upcycle” driven by AI spending, Macquaire analysts said, adding that the upcycle could extend at least through 2027.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026

William Covarrubias launched his upcycled clothing brand Retro Fitted LA in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

This year's shortlist includes an upcycled skyscraper in Sydney, the entire island of Barbados and a Bristol based company that filters microplastics from washing machines.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 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

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

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

And it was very in keeping with Stacey's upcycling hacks that she likes to share.

From BBC ● May 11, 2025

An upcycling and repurposing project by designers Laura Beham and Callum Pidgeon, Prototypes has a dark, direct energy in its balaclavas and black and red color scheme, conjuring Balenciaga, but upcycled.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2024