RECYCLE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
RECYCLE meaning: 1. to sort and collect rubbish in order to treat it and produce useful materials that can be used…. Learn more.
RECYCLE \| definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary![](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz48c3ZnIHdpZHRoPSI5OTk5OXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijk5OTk5cHgiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCA5OTk5OSA5OTk5OSIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj48ZyBzdHJva2U9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtb3BhY2l0eT0iMCI+PHJlY3QgeD0iMCIgeT0iMCIgd2lkdGg9Ijk5OTk5IiBoZWlnaHQ9Ijk5OTk5Ij48L3JlY3Q+IDwvZz4gPC9zdmc+)

[Cambridge Dictionary](/us/ "Cambridge Dictionary")

- [Dictionary](/us/dictionary/)
- [Translate](/us/translate/)
- [Grammar](/us/grammar/british-grammar/)
- [Thesaurus](/us/thesaurus/)
- [+PlusCambridge Dictionary +Plus](/us/plus/)
- [Shop](https://cambridgedictionaryshop.com/?utm_source=CDO&utm_medium=mainnav&utm_campaign=merchandise&utm_id=Experiments)

- [Cambridge Dictionary +Plus](/us/plus/)
- [My profile](/us/auth/profile)
- [+Plus help](/us/howto.html)
- Log out

- [Likes](https://www.facebook.com/CUPCambridgeDictionary/ "Likes")
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/cambridgewords "Instagram")
- [Followers](https://twitter.com/CambridgeWords "Followers")

{{userName}}

- [Cambridge Dictionary +Plus](/us/plus/)
- [My profile](/us/auth/profile)
- [+Plus help](/us/howto.html)
- Log out

Log in / Sign up

English (US)

English


{{word}}
{{#beta}}
Beta{{/beta}}


{{#preferredDictionaries}}
{{^selected}}

{{name}}

{{/selected}}
{{/preferredDictionaries}}


# Meaning of **recycle** in English

[Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fus%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Frecycle&t= "Share on Facebook")

[Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fus%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Frecycle&text= "Share on X")

recycle

verb[\[ T \]](/us/help/codes.html)

us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ˌriːˈsaɪ.kəl/uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ˌriːˈsaɪ.kəl/

Add to word listAdd to word list

B1

to [sort](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/sort "sort") and [collect](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/collect "collect") [trash](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/trash "trash") in [order](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/order "order") to [treat](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/treat "treat") it and [produce](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/produce "produce") [useful](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/useful "useful") [materials](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/material "materials") that can be used again:

The [Japanese](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/japanese "Japanese") recycle more than [half](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/half "half") [their](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/their "their") [waste](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/waste "waste") [paper](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/paper "paper").

Shall I just [throw](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/throw "throw") this [bottle](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/bottle "bottle") away, or do you recycle?

to use something again for a different [purpose](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/purpose "purpose"):

Why not recycle [holiday](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/holiday "holiday") [cards](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/cards "cards") as [gift](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/gift "gift") [tags](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/tag "tags")?

Students can sometimes recycle [old](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/old "old") [essays](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/essay "essays") to make them [fit](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/fit "fit") new [questions](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/question "questions").

More examplesFewer examples

- Metal, [paper](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/paper "paper") and [glass](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/glass "glass") can be recycled.
- [Old](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/old-testament "Old") [newspapers](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/newspaper "newspapers") are [pulped](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/pulp "pulped") and recycled.
- As a [nation](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/nation "nation") we recycle a [mere](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/mere "mere") 20 [percent](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/percent "percent") of [our](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/our "our") [waste](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/waste "waste").
- Can you recycle [cardboard](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/cardboard "cardboard")?
- She recycles as much as she can.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

[Environmental issues](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/topics/earth-and-outer-space/environmental-issues/ "Words and phrases related to recycle in the topic Environmental issues")

- [agroecology]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/agroecology?topic=environmental-issues  "agroecology")
- [air pollution]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/air-pollution?topic=environmental-issues  "air pollution")
- [anoxia]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/anoxia?topic=environmental-issues  "anoxia")
- [anoxic]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/anoxic?topic=environmental-issues  "anoxic")
- [anti-conservation]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/anti-conservation?topic=environmental-issues  "anti-conservation")
- [deforestation]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/deforestation?topic=environmental-issues  "deforestation")
- [dumping ground]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dumping-ground?topic=environmental-issues  "dumping ground")
- [eco-audit]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/eco-audit?topic=environmental-issues  "eco-audit")
- [eco-footprint]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/eco-footprint?topic=environmental-issues  "eco-footprint")
- [energy conservation]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/energy-conservation?topic=environmental-issues  "energy conservation")
- [energy security]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/energy-security?topic=environmental-issues  "energy security")
- [environmental justice]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/environmental-justice?topic=environmental-issues  "environmental justice")
- [environmental stress]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/environmental-stress?topic=environmental-issues  "environmental stress")
- [environmentalism]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/environmentalism?topic=environmental-issues  "environmentalism")
- [reduce, reuse, recycleidiom]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/reduce-reuse-recycle?topic=environmental-issues  "reduce, reuse, recycle idiom")
- [rewild]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/rewild?topic=environmental-issues  "rewild")
- [rewilding]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/rewilding?topic=environmental-issues  "rewilding")
- [runoff]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/runoff?topic=environmental-issues  "runoff")
- [scrapyard]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/scrapyard?topic=environmental-issues  "scrapyard")
- [scrubber]( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/scrubber?topic=environmental-issues  "scrubber")

[See more results »](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/topics/earth-and-outer-space/environmental-issues/ "Words and phrases related to recycle in the topic Environmental issues")

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

[Preserving and saving](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/topics/protecting-and-saving/preserving-and-saving/ "Words and phrases related to recycle in the topic Preserving and saving")

[Rubbish and waste](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/topics/using-and-not-using/rubbish-and-waste/ "Words and phrases related to recycle in the topic Rubbish and waste")

[Using and misusing](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/topics/using-and-not-using/using-and-misusing/ "Words and phrases related to recycle in the topic Using and misusing")

(Definition of **recycle** from the [**Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/ "Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus") © Cambridge University Press)


## **recycle** \| Intermediate English

recycle

verb[\[ I/T \]](/us/help/codes.html)

us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/riˈsɑɪ·kəl/

Add to word listAdd to word list

to [collect](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/collect "collect") and [treat](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/treat "treat") used [objects](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/object "objects") and [materials](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/material "materials") that are [ready](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/ready "ready") to be [thrown](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/thrown "thrown") out in [order](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/order "order") to [produce](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/produce "produce") [materials](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/material "materials") that can be used again:

[\[ T \]](/us/help/codes.html)The [law](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/law "law") [requires](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/require "requires") us to recycle [paper](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/paper "paper") [products](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/product "products"), [glass](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/glass "glass") [bottles](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/bottle "bottles"), [soda](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/soda "soda") [cans](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/can "cans"), and some [kinds](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/kind "kinds") of [plastic](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/plastic "plastic").

(Definition of **recycle** from the [**Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/ "Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary") © Cambridge University Press)


## **recycle** \| Business English

recycle

verb[\[ I or T \]](/us/help/codes.html)

uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ˌriːˈsaɪkl/us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

Add to word listAdd to word list

ENVIRONMENT

to use a [special](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/special "special") [industrial](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/industrial "industrial") [process](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/process "process") in [order](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/order "order") to make [materials](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/material "materials") and [products](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/product "products") [ready](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/ready "ready") to be used again:

Remember to [reduce](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/reduce "reduce"), [reuse](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/reuse "reuse"), or recycle.

be recycledEquipment that is too [old](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/old "old") to [repair](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/repair "repair") is recycled.

recycle goods/material/wasteWaste is [separated](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/separate "separated") into four different [bins](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/bin "bins") in [order](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/order "order") to recycle it.

recycle sth into sthPlastic [bottles](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/bottle "bottles") can be recycled into a [myriad](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/myriad "myriad") other [products](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/product "products").

**Compare**

[reclaim](/us/dictionary/english/reclaim "meaning of reclaim")

[repurpose](/us/dictionary/english/repurpose "meaning of repurpose")

to use [money](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/money "money") for a different [purpose](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/purpose "purpose") from the one it was [originally](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/originally "originally") [intended](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/intended "intended") for:

recycle sth into sthThe [original](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/original "original") [capital](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/capital "capital") of $500,000 has been recycled into [loans](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/loan "loans") [totaling](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/total "totaling") $22 million.

(Definition of **recycle** from the [**Cambridge Business English Dictionary**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/ "Cambridge Business English Dictionary") © Cambridge University Press)


## Examples of recycle

recycle


A good rule of thumb is, if you haven't worn the item in over a year, _recycle_ it.


From [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anya-strzemien/womens-clothes-shopping-my-closet_b_2012280.html)

A whopping 70 percent of its used water is now recycled.


From [Reuters](http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS311612153620110318)

Many retailers now offer to _recycle_ old refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers.


From [MLive.com](http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2010/10/saginaws_partnership_center_th.html)

He saw that veterans with drug addiction weren't getting helped by being thrown into prison; they were just being recycled.


From [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/02/veterans-coming-home_n_1932366.html)

Among the benefits: fewer heavy bottles to lug and, perhaps most important, less packaging that needs to be recycled.


From [Los Angeles Times](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/10/tide-pods-windex-mini.html)

That way you _recycle_ someone else's unwanted plastic and score great savings.


From [Business Insider](http://www.businessinsider.com/22-budget-friendly-ways-to-go-green-in-honor-of-earth-day-2012-4)

He also appeared to chastise those who think that simply by buying environmentally friendly products and recycling they are doing enough for the cause.


From [Slate Magazine](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/01/18/pope_francis_failing_to_care_for_environment_is_a_betrayal_of_god.html)

Remember the "stuff" bought for the off-campus housing that you assumed could be recycled.


From [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-quigley/millennials-spending-cost_b_1104904.html)

The factory also recycles glass bottles from across the country.


From [Gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/a-trip-to-the-glass-mountains-of-israels-only-bottle-fa-1757045782)

No serious newspaper would _recycle_ out-of-context quotes from 20-year-old college students to make a political point.


From [New York Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/senate-hopeful-harold-ford-college-days-paint-picture-young-man-knack-leadership-article-1.198575)

Why bother to turn off the lights, _recycle_, eat local, fill in your blank.


From [Huffington Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heidi-zuckerman-jacobson/one-thing-of-which-i-am-c_b_1119365.html)

They use more "environmentally sustainable" materials that _recycle_ better.


From [CNN](http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/28/dangerous-drop-side-cribs-no-longer-for-sale/)

That's why so many people have recycled it over the years.


From [CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/19/us/gettysburg-address-quotable-facebook/)

To ensure that these accounts are recycled safely and securely, we're doing several things.


From [Wired](http://www.wired.com/2013/06/yahoos-very-bad-idea/)

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

[What is the pronunciation of _recycle_?](/us/pronunciation/english/recycle "recycle pronunciation in English")

## Translations of recycle

in Chinese (Traditional)


分揀收集（垃圾）用於回收再用, （出於別的目的）再次利用…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/recycle "recycle: Chinese (Traditional) translation")

in Chinese (Simplified)


分拣收集（垃圾）用于回收再用, （出于别的目的）再次利用…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-chinese-simplified/recycle "recycle: Chinese (Simplified) translation")

in Spanish


reciclar…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-spanish/recycle "recycle Spanish translation")

in Portuguese


reciclar…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-portuguese/recycle "recycle: Portuguese translation")

in more languages

in Marathi


in Japanese


in Turkish


in French


in Catalan


in Dutch


in Tamil


in Hindi


in Gujarati


in Danish


in Swedish


in Malay


in German


in Norwegian


in Urdu


in Ukrainian


in Russian


in Telugu


in Arabic


in Bengali


in Czech


in Indonesian


in Thai


in Vietnamese


in Polish


in Korean


in Italian


पुनर्वापर…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-marathi/recycle "recycle: Marathi translation")

～をリサイクルする, 再利用する, 再利用（さいりよう）する…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-japanese/recycle "recycle: Japanese translation")

yeniden kazanmak, tekrar kullanmak, geri dönüştürmek…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-turkish/recycle "recycle Turkish translation")

recycler…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-french/recycle "recycle: French translation")

reciclar…


[See more](/dictionary/english-catalan/recycle "recycle: Catalan translation")

recyclen…


[See more](/dictionary/english-dutch/recycle "recycle: Dutch translation")

குப்பைகளை தரம் பிரித்து சேகரித்து, அதை சுத்திகரித்து, மீண்டும் பயன்படுத்தக்கூடிய பயனுள்ள பொருட்களை உருவாக்குதல்.…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-tamil/recycle "recycle: Tamil translation")

पुनर्चक्रण करना, रिसायकल करना, प्रयोग की जा चुकी चीज़ों को दोबारा प्रयोग में लाना…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-hindi/recycle "recycle: Hindi translation")

નકામી થયેલી વસ્તુને ફરી વાપરી શકાય એવી બનાવવી, કોઈ વસ્તુનો અલગ હેતુ માટે પુન: ઉપયોગ કરવો…


[See more](/dictionary/english-gujarati/recycle "recycle: Gujarati translation")

recirkulere, genbruge…


[See more](/dictionary/english-danish/recycle "recycle: Danish translation")

återvinna, återanvända…


[See more](/dictionary/english-swedish/recycle "recycle: Swedish translation")

kitar semula…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-malaysian/recycle "recycle: Malay translation")

wiederverwerten…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-german/recycle "recycle: German translation")

resirkulere, gjenvinne…


[See more](/dictionary/english-norwegian/recycle "recycle: Norwegian translation")

دوبارہ قابلِ استعمال بنانا, دوبارہ استعمال(کسی چیز کو دوبارہ کسی دوسرے مقصد کے لئے استعمال کرنا)…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-urdu/recycle "recycle: Urdu translation")

повторно використовувати…


[See more](/dictionary/english-ukrainian/recycle "recycle: Ukrainian translation")

перерабатывать, повторно использовать…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-russian/recycle "recycle: Russian translation")

పునరుపయోగించు/ చెత్తను శుద్ధి చేయడానికి, మళ్లీ వాడుకోగల ఉపయోగకరమైన పదార్థాలను ఉత్పత్తి చేయడానికి చెత్తను క్రమబద్ధీకరించు, సేకరించు…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-telugu/recycle "recycle: Telugu translation")

يُعيد تَدْوير…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-arabic/recycle "recycle: Arabic translation")

আবর্জনা থেকে বেছে নিয়ে ঠিক পদ্ধতিতে পুনর্ব্যবহারযোগ্য উপকরণ প্রস্তুত করা, পুনর্ব্যবহার করা…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-bengali/recycle "recycle: Bengali translation")

recyklovat…


[See more](/dictionary/english-czech/recycle "recycle: Czech translation")

mendaur ulang…


[See more](/dictionary/english-indonesian/recycle "recycle: Indonesian translation")

นำกลับมาใช้อีก…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-thai/recycle "recycle: Thai translation")

tái chế…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-vietnamese/recycle "recycle: Vietnamese translation")

odzyskiwać, utylizować, przerobić powtórnie…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-polish/recycle "recycle: Polish translation")

재활용하다…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-korean/recycle "recycle: Korean translation")

riciclare…


[See more](/us/dictionary/english-italian/recycle "recycle: Italian translation")

Need a translator?

Get a quick, free translation!

[Translator tool](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/translate/)

## **Browse**

[recusant](/us/dictionary/english/recusant "recusant")

[recuse](/us/dictionary/english/recuse "recuse")

[recut](/us/dictionary/english/recut "recut")

[recyclable](/us/dictionary/english/recyclable "recyclable")

recycle

[recycle bin](/us/dictionary/english/recycle-bin "recycle bin")

[recycled](/us/dictionary/english/recycled "recycled")

[recycler](/us/dictionary/english/recycler "recycler")

[recycling](/us/dictionary/english/recycling "recycling")

{{#randomImageQuizHook.filename}}
{{#randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}}


Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes

[Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes](/us/plus/quiz/image/{{randomImageQuizHook.quizId}} "Test your vocabulary with our fun image quizzes")

[Try a quiz now](/us/plus/quiz/image/{{randomImageQuizHook.quizId}})

{{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}}
{{^randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}}


{{/randomImageQuizHook.isQuiz}}
{{/randomImageQuizHook.filename}}


## More meanings of _recycle_

All


- [recycle bin](/us/dictionary/english/recycle-bin "recycle bin")
- [reduce, reuse, recycleidiom](/us/dictionary/english/reduce-reuse-recycle "reduce, reuse, recycle idiom")
- [reduce, reuse, recycle](/us/dictionary/english/reduce "reduce, reuse, recycle")

[See all meanings](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/search/english/?q=recycle "All meanings for recycle in English")

Idioms and phrases


- [reduce, reuse, recycleidiom](/us/dictionary/english/reduce-reuse-recycle "reduce, reuse, recycle idiom")

[Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fus%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Fplushie%23cald4-1&t= "Share on Facebook")

[Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.cambridge.org%2Fus%2Fdictionary%2Fenglish%2Fplushie%23cald4-1&text= "Share on X")

Word of the Day

[plushie](/us/dictionary/english/plushie#cald4-1)

UK

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ˈplʌʃ.i/

US

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ˈplʌʃ.i/

a toy made from cloth and filled with a soft material so that it is pleasant to hold, often in the form of an animal

[About this](/us/dictionary/english/plushie#cald4-1)

Blog

[Like a bull in a china shop: talking about people who are clumsy](https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/09/04/like-a-bull-in-a-china-shop-talking-about-people-who-are-clumsy/)

September 04, 2024

[Read More](https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/09/04/like-a-bull-in-a-china-shop-talking-about-people-who-are-clumsy/)

New Words

[noctalgia](https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/09/09/new-words-9-september-2024/)

September 09, 2024

[More new words](https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/2024/09/09/new-words-9-september-2024/)

has been added to list

To top

Contents

[English](#dataset_cald4-us) [Intermediate](#dataset_cacd) [Business](#dataset_cbed) [Examples](#dataset_examples-us) [Translations](#dataset_translations)

[Become our fan!](https://www.facebook.com/CUPCambridgeDictionary/ "Become our fan!")[Follow our Instagram!](https://www.instagram.com/cambridgewords "Follow our Instagram!")[Follow us!](https://twitter.com/CambridgeWords "Follow us!")

[Cambridge University Press & Assessment](http://www.cambridge.org/ "Cambridge University Press & Assessment")

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Learn


[Learn](/us/learn.html) [Learn](/us/learn.html) [New Words](https://dictionaryblog.cambridge.org/category/new-words/) [Help](/us/help/) [In Print](http://www.cambridge.org/gb/cambridgeenglish/catalog/dictionaries) [Word of the Year 2021](/editorial/woty/2021) [Word of the Year 2022](/editorial/woty/2022) [Word of the Year 2023](/editorial/woty)

Develop


[Develop](/us/develop.html) [Develop](/us/develop.html) [Dictionary API](http://dictionary-api.cambridge.org) [Double-Click Lookup](/us/doubleclick.html) [Search Widgets](/us/freesearch.html) [License Data](/us/license.html)

About


[About](/us/about.html) [About](/us/about.html) [Accessibility](http://www.cambridge.org/policy/accessibility/) [Cambridge English](http://www.cambridge.org/us/cambridgeenglish) [Cambridge University Press & Assessment](http://www.cambridge.org/) Consent Management [Cookies and Privacy](http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/legal-notices/privacy-notice) [Corpus](http://www.cambridge.org/elt/corpus/) [Terms of Use](http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/terms-use/)

[Become our fan!](https://www.facebook.com/CUPCambridgeDictionary/ "Become our fan!")[Follow our Instagram!](https://www.instagram.com/cambridgewords "Follow our Instagram!")[Follow us!](https://twitter.com/CambridgeWords "Follow us!")

[Cambridge University Press & Assessment](http://www.cambridge.org/ "Cambridge University Press & Assessment")

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

{{#displayLoginPopup}}


CambridgeDictionary +Plus

## Learn more with+Plus

Sign up
for free and get access to exclusive content:

Free
word lists and quizzes from Cambridge

Tools
to create your own word lists and quizzes

Word lists
shared by our community of dictionary fans

Sign up now or Log in

CambridgeDictionary +Plus

## Learn more with+Plus

Create word lists and quizzes for free

Sign up now or Log in

{{/displayLoginPopup}}

{{#displayClassicSurvey}}
{{/displayClassicSurvey}}


[Cambridge Dictionary](/ "Cambridge Dictionary")

- [Cambridge Dictionary +Plus](/us/plus/)
- [My profile](/us/auth/profile)
- [+Plus help](/us/howto.html)
- Log out

Dictionary

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

[English](/us/dictionary/english/)

[Learner’s Dictionary](/us/dictionary/learner-english/)

[Essential British English](/us/dictionary/essential-british-english/)

[Essential American English](/us/dictionary/essential-american-english/)

Translations

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

[English–Chinese (Simplified)](/us/dictionary/english-chinese-simplified/ "Cambridge English-Chinese (Simplified) Dictionary") [Chinese (Simplified)–English](/us/dictionary/chinese-simplified-english/ "Cambridge Chinese (Simplified)-English Dictionary")

[English–Chinese (Traditional)](/us/dictionary/english-chinese-traditional/ "Cambridge English-Chinese (Traditional) Dictionary") [Chinese (Traditional)–English](/us/dictionary/chinese-traditional-english/ "Cambridge Chinese (Traditional)-English Dictionary")

[English–Dutch](/dictionary/english-dutch/ "English-Dutch Dictionary") [Dutch–English](/dictionary/dutch-english/ "Dutch-English Dictionary")

[English–French](/us/dictionary/english-french/ "English-French Dictionary") [French–English](/us/dictionary/french-english/ "French-English Dictionary")

[English–German](/us/dictionary/english-german/ "English-German Dictionary") [German–English](/us/dictionary/german-english/ "German-English Dictionary")

[English–Indonesian](/dictionary/english-indonesian/ "English-Indonesian Dictionary") [Indonesian–English](/dictionary/indonesian-english/ "Indonesian-English Dictionary")

[English–Italian](/us/dictionary/english-italian/ "Cambridge English-Italian Dictionary") [Italian–English](/us/dictionary/italian-english/ "Italian-English Dictionary")

[English–Japanese](/us/dictionary/english-japanese/ "Cambridge English-Japanese Dictionary") [Japanese–English](/us/dictionary/japanese-english/ "Japanese-English Dictionary")

[English–Norwegian](/dictionary/english-norwegian/ "English-Norwegian Dictionary") [Norwegian–English](/dictionary/norwegian-english/ "Norwegian-English Dictionary")

[English–Polish](/us/dictionary/english-polish/ "Cambridge English-Polish Dictionary") [Polish–English](/us/dictionary/polish-english/ "Polish-English Dictionary")

[English–Portuguese](/us/dictionary/english-portuguese/ "Cambridge English-Portuguese Dictionary") [Portuguese–English](/us/dictionary/portuguese-english/ "Portuguese-English Dictionary")

[English–Spanish](/us/dictionary/english-spanish/ "English-Spanish Dictionary") [Spanish–English](/us/dictionary/spanish-english/ "Diccionario Español-inglés")

[English–Swedish](/dictionary/english-swedish/ "English-Swedish Dictionary") [Swedish–English](/dictionary/swedish-english/ "Swedish-English Dictionary")

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

[English–Arabic](/us/dictionary/english-arabic/ "Cambridge English-Arabic Dictionary")

[English–Bengali](/us/dictionary/english-bengali/ "Cambridge English-Bengali Dictionary")

[English–Catalan](/dictionary/english-catalan/ "Cambridge English-Catalan Dictionary")

[English–Czech](/dictionary/english-czech/ "English-Czech Dictionary")

[English–Danish](/dictionary/english-danish/ "English-Danish Dictionary")

[English–Gujarati](/dictionary/english-gujarati/ "English-Gujarati Dictionary")

[English–Hindi](/us/dictionary/english-hindi/ "English-Hindi Dictionary")

[English–Korean](/us/dictionary/english-korean/ "Cambridge English-Korean Dictionary")

[English–Malay](/us/dictionary/english-malaysian/ "English-Malay Dictionary")

[English–Marathi](/us/dictionary/english-marathi/ "English-Marathi Dictionary")

[English–Russian](/us/dictionary/english-russian/ "Cambridge English-Russian Dictionary")

[English–Tamil](/us/dictionary/english-tamil/ "English-Tamil Dictionary")

[English–Telugu](/us/dictionary/english-telugu/ "English-Telugu Dictionary")

[English–Thai](/us/dictionary/english-thai/ "English-Thai Dictionary")

[English–Turkish](/us/dictionary/english-turkish/ "English-Turkish Dictionary, İngilizce-Türkçe Çeviri")

[English–Ukrainian](/dictionary/english-ukrainian/ "English-Ukrainian Dictionary")

[English–Urdu](/us/dictionary/english-urdu/ "English-Urdu Dictionary")

[English–Vietnamese](/us/dictionary/english-vietnamese/ "English-Vietnamese Dictionary")

[Translate](/us/translate/)

[Grammar](/us/grammar/british-grammar/)

[Thesaurus](/us/thesaurus/)

[Pronunciation](/us/pronunciation/)

[Cambridge Dictionary +Plus](/us/plus/)

[Shop](https://cambridgedictionaryshop.com/?utm_source=CDO&utm_medium=mainnav&utm_campaign=merchandise&utm_id=Experiments)

{{userName}}


- [Cambridge Dictionary +Plus](/us/mydictionary/)
- [My profile](/us/auth/profile)
- [+Plus help](/us/howto.html)
- Log out

Log in  /
Sign up

English (US) Change

[English (UK)](/dictionary/english/recycle) [English (US)](/us/dictionary/english/recycle) [Español](/es/diccionario/ingles/recycle) [Русский](/ru/%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8C/%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9/recycle) [Português](/pt/dicionario/ingles/recycle) [Deutsch](/de/worterbuch/englisch/recycle) [Français](/fr/dictionnaire/anglais/recycle) [Italiano](/it/dizionario/inglese/recycle) [中文 (简体)](/zhs/%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AF%AD/recycle) [正體中文 (繁體)](/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E/recycle) [Polski](/pl/dictionary/english/recycle) [한국어](/ko/%EC%82%AC%EC%A0%84/%EC%98%81%EC%96%B4/recycle) [Türkçe](/tr/s%C3%B6zl%C3%BCk/ingilizce/recycle) [日本語](/ja/dictionary/english/recycle) [Tiếng Việt](/vi/dictionary/english/recycle) [Nederlands](/nl/woordenboek/engels/recycle) [Svenska](/sv/ordbok/engelska/recycle) [Dansk](/da/ordbog/engelsk/recycle) [Norsk](/no/ordbok/engelsk/recycle) [हिंदी](/hi/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B6/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80/recycle) [বাঙ্গালি](/bn/dictionary/english/recycle) [मराठी](/mr/dictionary/english/recycle) [ગુજરાતી](/gu/dictionary/english/recycle) [தமிழ்](/ta/dictionary/english/recycle) [తెలుగు](/te/dictionary/english/recycle) [Українська](/uk/dictionary/english/recycle)

Follow us

[Likes](https://www.facebook.com/CUPCambridgeDictionary/ "Likes")

[Followers](https://www.instagram.com/cambridgewords "Followers")

[Followers](https://twitter.com/CambridgeWords "Followers")

Choose a dictionary

- Recent and Recommended





{{#preferredDictionaries}}

{{name}}

{{/preferredDictionaries}}


- Definitions



Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English



EnglishLearner’s DictionaryEssential British EnglishEssential American English

- Grammar and thesaurus



Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English



GrammarThesaurus

- Pronunciation



British and American pronunciations with audio



English Pronunciation

- Translation



Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.



Bilingual Dictionaries



- English–Chinese (Simplified)Chinese (Simplified)–English
- English–Chinese (Traditional)Chinese (Traditional)–English
- English–DutchDutch–English
- English–FrenchFrench–English
- English–GermanGerman–English
- English–IndonesianIndonesian–English
- English–ItalianItalian–English
- English–JapaneseJapanese–English
- English–NorwegianNorwegian–English
- English–PolishPolish–English
- English–PortuguesePortuguese–English
- English–SpanishSpanish–English
- English–SwedishSwedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–ArabicEnglish–BengaliEnglish–CatalanEnglish–CzechEnglish–DanishEnglish–GujaratiEnglish–HindiEnglish–KoreanEnglish–MalayEnglish–MarathiEnglish–RussianEnglish–TamilEnglish–TeluguEnglish–ThaiEnglish–TurkishEnglish–UkrainianEnglish–UrduEnglish–Vietnamese

- Dictionary +Plus


Word Lists


Choose your language


English (US)

[English (UK)](/dictionary/english/recycle) [Español](/es/diccionario/ingles/recycle) [Русский](/ru/%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8C/%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9/recycle) [Português](/pt/dicionario/ingles/recycle) [Deutsch](/de/worterbuch/englisch/recycle) [Français](/fr/dictionnaire/anglais/recycle) [Italiano](/it/dizionario/inglese/recycle) [中文 (简体)](/zhs/%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AF%AD/recycle) [正體中文 (繁體)](/zht/%E8%A9%9E%E5%85%B8/%E8%8B%B1%E8%AA%9E/recycle) [Polski](/pl/dictionary/english/recycle) [한국어](/ko/%EC%82%AC%EC%A0%84/%EC%98%81%EC%96%B4/recycle) [Türkçe](/tr/s%C3%B6zl%C3%BCk/ingilizce/recycle) [日本語](/ja/dictionary/english/recycle) [Tiếng Việt](/vi/dictionary/english/recycle) [Nederlands](/nl/woordenboek/engels/recycle) [Svenska](/sv/ordbok/engelska/recycle) [Dansk](/da/ordbog/engelsk/recycle) [Norsk](/no/ordbok/engelsk/recycle) [हिंदी](/hi/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B6/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80/recycle) [বাঙ্গালি](/bn/dictionary/english/recycle) [मराठी](/mr/dictionary/english/recycle) [ગુજરાતી](/gu/dictionary/english/recycle) [தமிழ்](/ta/dictionary/english/recycle) [తెలుగు](/te/dictionary/english/recycle) [Українська](/uk/dictionary/english/recycle)

Contents

- English




[Verb](#cald4-us-1)

- Intermediate




[Verb](#cacd-1)

- Business




[Verb](#cbed-1)

- [Examples](#dataset_examples-us)

- [Translations](#dataset_translations)
- [Grammar](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/)
- [All translations](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/translate/)

My word lists

To add **recycle** to a word list please sign up or log in.

Sign uporLog in

My word lists

Add **recycle** to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

{{#verifyErrors}}


{{message}}

{{/verifyErrors}}
{{^verifyErrors}}
{{#message}}


{{message}}

{{/message}}
{{^message}}


Something went wrong.

{{/message}}
{{/verifyErrors}}


{{name}}


More


Go to your [word lists](/us/plus/wordlist)

{{#verifyErrors}}


{{message}}

{{/verifyErrors}}
{{^verifyErrors}}
{{#message}}


{{message}}

{{/message}}
{{^message}}


Something went wrong.

{{/message}}
{{/verifyErrors}}


Tell us about this example sentence:

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel
Submit

Thanks! Your feedback will be reviewed.


{{#verifyErrors}}


{{message}}

{{/verifyErrors}}
{{^verifyErrors}}
{{#message}}


{{message}}

{{/message}}
{{^message}}


There was a problem sending your report.

{{/message}}
{{/verifyErrors}}


The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel
Submit

Thanks! Your feedback will be reviewed.


{{#verifyErrors}}


{{message}}

{{/verifyErrors}}
{{^verifyErrors}}
{{#message}}


{{message}}

{{/message}}
{{^message}}


There was a problem sending your report.

{{/message}}
{{/verifyErrors}}