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

Urner Barry has said its egg-price index has been in circulation since 1858, and publishes data on spot-market trades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Animals traded through global wildlife markets are far more likely to carry diseases that can infect humans, and the risk grows the longer those species remain in circulation, according to a new study.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

They have a fixed amount of shares in circulation — hence they are closed-ended, as opposed to “open-ended” mutual funds and ETFs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 12, 2026

Banknotes with the late Queen Elizabeth II also remain in circulation.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 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