in circulation

Idioms  

1. Also, into circulation. In business or social life, especially after a period of absence. For example, After a month in the hospital Bill was eager to get back in circulation. The antonym is out of circulation, as in Since we had twins we've been out of circulation, but we're hoping to get out more often soon. These expressions, dating from the first half of the 1900s, employ circulation in the sense of “making the rounds among people,” a usage dating from the 1600s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in circulation

Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region, with around 10 million firearms estimated to be in circulation -- roughly one for every seven inhabitants.

From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026

Experts say that the program has contributed to the high number of unlicensed guns in circulation in the country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

After all, the value of physical U.S. currency in circulation today stands at over US$2.46 trillion, an all-time high.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

Cash in circulation jumped after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation in September 2022 and during a brief mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group in June 2023.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

Walkmans had started appearing at Hailsham since the previous year’s Sales and by that summer there were at least six of them in circulation.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Related Words

• modern
• ongoing
• present
• prevailing