upcycle

verb

up·cy·cle ˈəp-ˌsī-kəl

upcycled; upcycling

: to recycle (something) in such a way that the resulting product is of a higher value than the original item : to create an object of greater value from (a discarded object of lesser value)

The line upcycles single-use plastic bags that are cleaned and brought in from Bali, Indonesia, and parts of California for use as the main material in the shoes. In the company's first year more than 175,000 plastic bags were reused to create footwear and accessories.—Melissa Magsaysay

upcycling noun

Examples of upcycle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

At the start of the project, 64 percent of the 29 companies believed their textile waste was disposed of through preferred disposal methods like reuse, recycling, upcycling or downcycling. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026 Price was also a sticking point with Loom, says Harvey, as is the case with lots of upcycling and redesign services. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026 Slaps Base is another leather shop that upcycles deadstock and salvaged car airbags into bags, shoes, belts, and more. — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026 Families can participate in hands-on sustainable living workshops, such as canning, pickling, sourdough making, upcycling, mending and sewing, as well as nature hiking and journaling. — Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upcycle

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of upcycle was in 1994

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Browse Nearby Words

upcut

upcycle

update

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Upcycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upcycle. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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upcycle

verb

Examples of upcycle in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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