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 Web
Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Recycling one ton of aluminum cans offers three times more greenhouse gas benefits than recycling a ton of cardboard, according to a report sponsored by the Ball Corp.
Between the lines: Laws can strongly drive recycling rates.
—Monica Eng, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
ExxonMobil and others have developed technologies to recycle or repurpose plastics.
—Ed Hirs, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for recycle 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Verb
But not in green growing Pennsylvania, where most frac water is recycled and not discarded in disposal wells.
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Recycling one ton of aluminum cans offers three times more greenhouse gas benefits than recycling a ton of cardboard, according to a report sponsored by the Ball Corp.
Between the lines: Laws can strongly drive recycling rates.
—Monica Eng, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
The laws require the mattress industry to develop and administer state programs to collect and recycle discarded mattresses for free.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2024
ExxonMobil and others have developed technologies to recycle or repurpose plastics.
—Ed Hirs, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for recycle
Dictionary Entries Near recycle
Cite this Entry
“Recycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recycle. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
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