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

The US embassy in New Delhi told AFP that "thousands of tuk-tuks currently in circulation will be sponsored to showcase messages celebrating America's 250th birthday".

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

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

There are just over 20 million bitcoin in circulation, out of a fixed cap of 21 million.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Government figures show around £93m of Jersey notes were in circulation at the end of 2025, with minimum print runs required "to achieve value for money in a smaller jurisdiction such as ours".

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

According to Jimmy, there’s a two-dollar bill in circulation for every twelve one-dollar bills.

From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

Related Words

• modern
• ongoing
• present
• prevailing