verb

recycle

ree-SEYE-kuhl

verb

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."

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 notes

In plain EnglishTo process used materials for reuse, or more loosely, to reuse something.

Common pairings

recycle plastic recycle paper recycle old ideas

recycled past tense, recycles plural, recycles singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

We _____ glass, paper, and plastic every week.

From re- ("again") plus cycle, ultimately from Greek kyklos ("circle, wheel").

cycle bicycle unicycle tricycle motorcycle