recycle
ree-SEYE-kuhl
Recycle (verb) means to process waste materials so they can be used again. Example: “We recycle glass, paper, and plastic every week.”
verb
1
To process waste materials so they can be used again.
"We recycle glass, paper, and plastic every week."
"Old newspapers can be recycled into new paper products."
2
To use something again, often in a different way.
"The band recycled an old melody for their new single."
How to use recycle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo process used materials for reuse, or more loosely, to reuse something.
Common pairings
recycle plastic
recycle paper
recycle old ideas
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Word forms
- Plural
- recycles
- Third person singular
- recycles
- Past tense
- recycled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We _____ glass, paper, and plastic every week.
Etymology
From re- ("again") plus cycle, ultimately from Greek kyklos ("circle, wheel").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for recycle
See all rhymes for recycle →Frequently asked questions
What does “recycle” mean?
The word “recycle” means to process waste materials so they can be used again. In plain terms, to process used materials for reuse, or more loosely, to reuse something.
How do you pronounce “recycle”?
“Recycle” is pronounced ree-SEYE-kuhl (/ɹəˈsaɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “recycle” in a sentence?
Here is “recycle” used in a sentence: “We recycle glass, paper, and plastic every week.”
What part of speech is “recycle”?
“Recycle” is a verb.
Where does the word “recycle” come from?
The word “recycle” comes from Greek. From re- ("again") plus cycle, ultimately from Greek kyklos ("circle, wheel").
Is “recycle” a common word?
“Recycle” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “recycle” have?
“Recycle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to process waste materials so they can be used again.
