recursive

adjective

re·​cur·​sive ri-ˈkər-siv 

1

: of, relating to, or involving recursion

a recursive function in a computer program

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely

a recursive rule in a grammar

recursively adverb

recursiveness noun

Examples of recursive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Taken far enough, and with enough compute, the blog post said such an approach could lead to recursive self-improvement—an AI system capable of autonomously designing, building, and improving its own successors. —Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 8 June 2026

Granted, at nearly three hours in length, the film is also incredibly demanding — especially its initial half, which, by its nature, becomes a recursive cycle of directionless youth that Rimbaud struggles to break. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 June 2026

The result is a recursive cultural phenomenon in which machine metaphors become self-models for human thought. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

All of these current approaches to self-improving AI are not recursive but piecemeal. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "recurring repeatedly," from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrere "to run back, run in the opposite direction, return" + -ive; in given senses as translation of German rekurrent or rekursiv — more at recur

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for recursive

• aversive
• coercive
• discursive
• dispersive
• immersive
• subversive
• cursive