circulate

10 synonyms and 2 antonyms for circulate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To move continuously through a system, or to travel around and mix with a group of people.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

broadcast spread

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

diffuse disperse distribute

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

circularize propagate put about disseminate circularise

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To move continuously through a system, or to travel around and mix with a group of people.

“Blood circulates through the body via the heart and vessels.”

diffuse circularize broadcast propagate put about spread disseminate circularise disperse distribute

Opposites

stagnate

2. verb

To spread information, rumours, or documents so they reach many people.

“Rumours of layoffs began to circulate around the office.”

Opposites

suppress

How to use circulate

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

circulate a memo blood circulates rumours circulate

Etymology

From Late Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare ("to make circular, encircle"), from circulus ("a circle").

Full origin of circulate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “circulate” mean?

The word “circulate” means to move continuously through a system, or to travel around and mix with a group of people. In plain terms, to move around continuously (like blood or air) or to spread from person to person (like news or a rumour).

How do you pronounce “circulate”?

“Circulate” is pronounced SUR-kyuu-layt (/ˈsɝ.kjʊˌleɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “circulate” in a sentence?

Here is “circulate” used in a sentence: “Blood circulates through the body via the heart and vessels.”

What is another word for “circulate”?

Words with a similar meaning to “circulate” include put about, spread and disseminate.

What part of speech is “circulate”?

“Circulate” is a verb.

Where does the word “circulate” come from?

The word “circulate” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare ("to make circular, encircle"), from circulus ("a circle").

Is “circulate” a common word?

“Circulate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “circulate” have?

“Circulate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move continuously through a system, or to travel around and mix with a group of people.

People also searched

spread broadcast distribute suppress disperse diffuse propagate circularize disseminate circularise stagnate

Nearby words

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