recycle

American  

[ree-sahy-kuhl] / riˈsaɪ kəl /

verb (used with object)

recycles, present (3rd person singular) recycled, past participle, past recycling present participle

1. to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse.

   recycling paper to save trees.

2. to alter or adapt for new use without changing the essential form or nature of.

   The old factory is being recycled as a theater.

3. to use again in the original form or with minimal alteration.

   The governor recycled some speeches from his early days.

4. to cause to pass through a cycle again.

   to recycle laundry through a washing machine.

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verb (used without object)

recycles, present (3rd person singular) recycled, past participle, past recycling present participle

1. to pass through a cycle again; repeat a process from the beginning.

2. to undergo reuse or renewal; be subject to or suitable for further use, activity, etc..

   The industry will recycle and become profitable once more.

noun

1. the act or process of recycling.

recycle British  

/ riːˈsaɪkəl /

verb

1. to pass (a substance) through a system again for further treatment or use

2. to reclaim (packaging or products with a limited useful life) for further use

3. to institute a different cycle of processes or events in (a machine, system, etc)

4. to repeat (a series of operations)

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noun

1. the repetition of a fixed sequence of events

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unrecycled
  adjective
• recycler
  noun
• recyclability
  noun
• nonrecyclable
  adjective
• recyclist
  noun
• recyclable
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has recycled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have recycled
  perfect
• am recycling
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been recycling
  perfect progressive
• recycling
  participle
• are recycling
  progressive
• has been recycling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is recycling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• recycles
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had recycled
  perfect
• were recycling
  progressive plural
• was recycling
  progressive singular
• had been recycling
  perfect progressive
• recycled
  simple
• recycled
  participle

Future

• will recycle
  simple
• will have recycled
  perfect
• will have been recycling
  perfect progressive
• will be recycling
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of recycle

First recorded in 1925–30; re- + cycle

Explanation

When you recycle something, you process it so it can be used again. You might recycle an old tire and make it into a snazzy black knapsack with some very cool skid marks. The prefix re- means again, and when you recycle something, you process it for another cycle of use. The phrase "reduce, reuse, recycle" gives you three ways to prevent waste. When you recycle plastic bottles, they’re melted down and made into new bottles or even furniture or clothing. You might do some creative recycling and turn your old textbooks into a coffee table. When you have your washing machine repeat the wash or rinse cycle, that’s a different recycle.

Example Sentences

Proteases, enzymes that recycle proteins, can rapidly cut peptides into individual amino acids, shortening their effectiveness.

From Science Daily • Apr. 28, 2026

In addition, the long-held agreement with Saudi Arabia to recycle oil petrodollar surpluses into U.S.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

“We’re trying to end homelessness, not have people recycle back to homelessness,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

A litter picking group has introduced a second reverse vending machine to the county that will offer rewards to people who recycle their cans and bottles.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Mark Oliphant developed a method of converting the water to gas with virtually no loss, allowing the lab to recycle the precious supply over and over again.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• convert