circulate
verb (used without object)
to move in a circle or circuit; move or pass through a circuit back to the starting point.
have circulated
-
present perfectof circulate.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For days, theories have circulated online about what might be behind it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Similar claims have circulated widely online, though Spanish officials dispute comparisons to U.S. immigration policy and say the circumstances surrounding the Ceuta crossings are unique to the enclave’s geography and legal status.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
The true spread of the outbreak, thought to have circulated under the radar for some time, is likely much wider, the WHO has warned.
From Barron's ● May 28, 2026
One of the world’s most wanted criminals, rumors about El Mencho’s death and capture have circulated in the past and turned out to be false.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 22, 2026
As it happens, Oresme’s text was never published, and cannot have circulated widely because it was written in French.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
