upcycle

American  

[uhp-sahy-kuhl] / ˈʌpˌsaɪ kəl /

verb (used with object)

upcycled, upcycling

1. to process (used goods or waste material) so as to produce something that is often better than the original.

   I upcycled a stained tablecloth into curtains.

---

verb (used without object)

upcycled, upcycling

1. to process goods or material so as to produce something that is often better than the original.

   Several new companies whose purpose is to upcycle have sprung up recently.

noun

1. Economics. a period or cycle during which business activity or profitability is at a high point.

   The whole industry has entered an upcycle.

Other Word Forms

• upcycler
  noun

Etymology

Origin of upcycle

First recorded in 1990–95; up + (re)cycle

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upcycle upcycled upcycling

The memory upcycle has only continued into 2026, and the company recorded 719% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter of 2026.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

"After twenty years of deflation, Japan is now in an inflationary upcycle," Japan economist Jesper Koll told the BBC.

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026

The current upcycle for dynamic random-access memory is in its 12th quarter, he noted, while in 2014 and 2018 it lasted eight to nine quarters.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026

He says investors should instead position for the sector’s 2027 capital expenditure upcycle theme.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026

However, Chatterjee argues that Seagate and Western Digital are taking an approach that could prolong the hard-drive upcycle and justifies a sustained higher valuation.

From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026

Maddie Biggs once used Tiktok for sharing what she'd baked, where she'd been on trips and how she'd upcycled the occasional bit of furniture.

From BBC ● Dec. 23, 2025

Were it not for a glitching credit card machine, I would have added an avant-garde upcycled white shirt to my collection.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2025

Yasmine Auquier Buron, co-founder of Rive Droite, had a corner in BHV where the brand sold bags made from recycled and upcycled materials since 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2025

Olwande Akoth, a designer showcasing her upcycled kimonos at the fashion show, once traded in second-hand bales but often felt disheartened by their poor quality.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2025

It’s important to note that our milk is made of upcycled pecan pieces.

From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2024

Since late February, Karyna has been applying daily, often to around 20 roles a day, while balancing studies, work and running a small business upcycling vintage blazers.

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026

Their work focuses on upcycling, a process that transforms discarded plastics into higher-value products rather than lower-grade materials.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 24, 2026

Gikomba Runway Edition brought together young, underground Kenyan designers and stylists for the first time, including 25-year-old "upcycling" specialist Morgan Azedy.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2025

Much of our product innovation has focused on upcycling pecan pieces, which generates a new revenue stream for farmers, but also reduces the price of our products.

From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2024

The potential of upcycling absolutely shines with Skovgaard’s tough yet elegant touch.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2024