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 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

"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

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

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’ve been recycling materials, upcycling materials, into this lounge chair silhouette.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2024