# recycle

/ɹiˈsaɪkəɫ/ (US) · /ɹɪsˈaɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/recycle
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to process waste

verb · CEFR A2

to put used objects like bottles or paper through a process so they can be used again.

For teachers: to process used or waste materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials.

- The city asks residents to recycle their glass bottles and newspapers every week.
- Modern facilities can now recycle a wider variety of plastics, significantly reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills annually.

Usage: Often used as a transitive verb with materials like glass, paper, or plastic as the object.

### 2. to reuse ideas

verb · CEFR B2

to use an old idea, story, or joke again in a different way.

For teachers: to reuse a concept, theme, or piece of content in a new context, often with minimal changes.

- The director decided to recycle some of the jokes from his previous movie.
- Critics argued that the novelist was merely recycling themes from her earlier, more successful works rather than exploring new territory.

### 3. to retrain someone

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

to send someone through a training course again because they did not pass the first time.

For teachers: to require a person to repeat a course of instruction or training, particularly in a military or technical context.

- If he fails the fitness test, the army will recycle him into the next training group.
- The sergeant explained that recruits who failed to meet the marksmanship standards would be recycled into a later platoon to receive remedial instruction.

Usage: Usually transitive; the object is the person being retrained.

### 4. act of recycling

noun · CEFR B2

the act or process of recycling something.

For teachers: the instance or cycle of processing materials for reuse.

- The factory achieved a high rate of water recycle in its cooling systems.
- Engineers focused on the efficiency of the chemical recycle to ensure that no hazardous byproducts escaped the closed-loop system.

## Examples

- We recycle all our glass bottles and old newspapers.
- The local government encourages residents to recycle plastic containers by providing blue bins for every household.
- Modern manufacturing plants often recycle industrial water through a closed-loop system to minimize their environmental footprint and reduce operational costs.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.