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.

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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

But current oil price strength is unlikely to mark a structural upcycle, with Brent expected at $70/bbl in 2027 as Middle East supply normalizes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

"The students wanted to upcycle clothes, make it unique for them, and save it from landfill."

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

“We still come in skeptical here … We see AI driving a long and enduring upcycle, but a cycle nonetheless,” Kerwin said.

From MarketWatch ● May 27, 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

For now, MAS expects the AI capex upcycle to keep going, though the lagged effects of higher tariffs are likely to weigh on final demand and trade, modestly cooling global growth this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026

But pupils at an academy in Leicester have developed an innovative solution – creating a "prom library" where donated suits and dresses have been upcycled and made available for free.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

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

I like to rent my clothes, and I appreciate upcycled furniture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2025

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

From Salon ● Dec. 15, 2024

Reformation, a top retailer with roots in upcycling vintage items, has expanded its “preloved” section, where it sells garb from brands including Prada and Bebe alongside its own styles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

The study, "Remediation and upcycling of microplastics by algae," was published in Nature Communications.

From Science Daily ● May 12, 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

The council said the event would include recycling games, upcycling and crafts between 11:00 BST and 16:00.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2025

It all feels different this time, like we’re finally entering the upcycling era.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2024