re·cy·cle
(ˌ)rē-ˈsī-kəl 
recycled; recycling; recycles
1
: to pass again through a series of changes or treatments: such as
a
: to process (something, such as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use
b
c
: to reuse or make (a substance) available for reuse for biological activities through natural processes of biochemical degradation or modification
green plants recycling the residue of forest fires
recycle ADP back to ATP
2
: to adapt to a new use : alter
3
: to bring back : reuse
recycles a number of good anecdotes—
Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry4
: to make ready for reuse
a plan to recycle vacant tenements
5
: to reuse (money) by investing especially in an area or enterprise that will allow the investment to return as new profits
recycle petrodollars
1
: to return to an earlier point in a countdown
2
: to return to an original condition so that operation can begin again
—used of an electronic device
3
: to process materials or substances (such as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use
As a rule, Welch does not recycle. Its roadsides are littered with paper bags from the town's half-dozen fast-food outlets.
Synonyms
Examples of recycle in a Sentence
Verb
They're studying various ways to recycle garbage into fuel.
The doormat is made from recycled tires.
Town residents are required to recycle cans and bottles.
We make efforts to recycle.
The author recycles a familiar story in her latest novel.
Recent Examples on the WebThe Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
The nylon and the poly lining are both recycled as well.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Recycle eclipse glasses from the 2024 solar eclipse If your viewing glasses are damaged and can't be donated, recycle them.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2024
In most cases, burying trash is the cheapest option — cheaper than recycling or diverting items from the landfill, Cantu said, though landfill officials did not have data available about the cost of burying or diverting waste.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2024
Related Articles One major Bay Area city is particularly bad at recycling.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
The city of San Diego accepts such products in residents’ recycling bins, but not all private haulers do.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
But those additives make recycling polypropylene more difficult.
—Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The program repurposes used guitar and orchestral strings in partnership with recycling company TerraCycle.
—Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Cynthia Sewell, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2024
That could look like walking or biking to school, throwing out litter or choosing to recycle.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
While lithium-ion batteries can be difficult to recycle, researchers said that water batteries can be easily disassembled and reused.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
The new regulations set higher allowable limits for airborne lead for some processes used to manufacture and recycle lead acid batteries.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024
The most recent new Taylor Swift album, Midnights, even caught flack for seeming to recycle Antonoff’s past work.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024
The utility has begun researching sustainable options to manage and recycle brine using Zero Liquid Discharge and membrane distillation, technologies that experts hope will treat saline water and wastewater.
—Arielle Paul, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
Remove packaging: To save space and boost appearances, remove and recycle product packaging when possible and practical.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2024
Dump the contents of the drawer onto the towel and start sorting into keep, recycle, or trash.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023
Verb
Where to donate or recycle your eclipse glasses in Ohio.
—The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
The nylon and the poly lining are both recycled as well.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Recycle eclipse glasses from the 2024 solar eclipse If your viewing glasses are damaged and can't be donated, recycle them.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 8 Apr. 2024
In most cases, burying trash is the cheapest option — cheaper than recycling or diverting items from the landfill, Cantu said, though landfill officials did not have data available about the cost of burying or diverting waste.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2024
Related Articles One major Bay Area city is particularly bad at recycling.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
The city of San Diego accepts such products in residents’ recycling bins, but not all private haulers do.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
But those additives make recycling polypropylene more difficult.
—Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The program repurposes used guitar and orchestral strings in partnership with recycling company TerraCycle.
—Josh Glicksman, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
Some consumers put their recyclables in plastic bags and then put the bags in the recycle bins.
—Cynthia Sewell, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2024
That could look like walking or biking to school, throwing out litter or choosing to recycle.
—Natalie Eilbert, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
While lithium-ion batteries can be difficult to recycle, researchers said that water batteries can be easily disassembled and reused.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
The new regulations set higher allowable limits for airborne lead for some processes used to manufacture and recycle lead acid batteries.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024
The most recent new Taylor Swift album, Midnights, even caught flack for seeming to recycle Antonoff’s past work.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024
The utility has begun researching sustainable options to manage and recycle brine using Zero Liquid Discharge and membrane distillation, technologies that experts hope will treat saline water and wastewater.
—Arielle Paul, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
Remove packaging: To save space and boost appearances, remove and recycle product packaging when possible and practical.
—Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2024
Dump the contents of the drawer onto the towel and start sorting into keep, recycle, or trash.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recycle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near recycle
Cite this Entry
“Recycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recycle. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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