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.
Theories have circulated online about what might have been behind the wave of 72,000 people who climbed over fences and swam around a breakwater to get into Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa.
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
Some downtown residents have circulated a petition regarding noise-related concerns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
Rumors of a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch have circulated for years, and speculation soared following Mayweather's announcement last week that he would return to the professional arena this year.
From Barron's ● Feb. 23, 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
