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

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

"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

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 in a historically cyclical industry, the stocks have already priced in at least some of the current upcycle in demand, argued Mehdi Hosseini of Susquehanna.

From Barron's ● Dec. 29, 2025

Featuring a fantastical garden of creatures lining the windows, all created using upcycled fabrics by the atelier, I had to pause on the sidewalk to whip out my phone and capture the scene before me.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2025

This year's shortlist includes an upcycled skyscraper in Sydney, the entire island of Barbados and a Bristol based company that filters microplastics from washing machines.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 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

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

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

"I think actual recycling of the tire itself is important, so there are truly circular solutions that are doing upcycling," he said.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 20, 2024

Inspired by his dedication to sustainability and upcycling, Romanelli’s numerous collaborations with Converse, Levis, Coca-Cola and Disney have straddled the design, music, art, food and fashion disciplines.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2024