circulate

verb

ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce circulate (audio)
Definition of circulatenext
1
as in to disseminate
to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people circulate the plans for the new stadium around town to get people's reaction

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rumor
to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy circulated a rumor that someone was about to be fired

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to spread
to become known the prince denies the story about an extramarital affair that's been circulating in the tabloids

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of circulate Outside hospitals, temporary shelters and makeshift morgues, families post photographs of missing relatives and circulating their names on social media in hopes that someone may have information about their fate. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 Prosecution plays videos from King’s office Over the course of about five days in August last year, key players were circulating in and out of Sheriff Adam King’s office. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026 Its design is based on the Double Eagle, the iconic 22-karat, $20 gold coin that circulated as legal tender in the United States for more than 80 years. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 According to an unofficial and widely circulated online list, some 38,500 people were still unaccounted for, down from nearly 60,000 in the days immediately after the quakes. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for circulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for circulate
  1. disseminate
  2. rumor
  3. spread
  4. propagate
  5. whisper
  6. reveal
Verb
  • Broadsides – sheets of paper containing lyrics to be sung to familiar, traditional melodies – were a common medium for disseminating songs.
    — Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • Much like rival OpenAI, which is also working on mobile hardware, Musk’s empire needs more endpoints to disseminate his AI.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of disseminate
Verb
  • Like its existing Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley smart glasses lines, the new designs are developed with EssilorLuxxottica — the group that also owns Prada eyewear, rumored to be Meta’s next collaborator.
    — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 7 July 2026
  • They were initially rumored to make up the album cover, but that proved untrue when Bridgers formally announced Lost Weekend and posted the official glitchy cover art (that was shot by Olof Grind, who also captured Punisher).
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 6 July 2026
Definition of rumor
Verb
  • Flames raced through rows of vehicles at a Rancho Cordova salvage yard Friday evening, engulfing between 50 and 100 vehicles before more than 70 firefighters contained the blaze and kept it from spreading to neighboring businesses.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
  • If using grounds, apply in 1 to 2-inch deep layers and make sure the coffee is spread in an unbroken line so slugs and snails won’t cross it.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
Definition of spread
Verb
  • But, especially when an impactor is big, most of it propagates into the mantle below.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 5 July 2026
  • Elbanna explained that an earthquake that propagates through the Cajon Pass could result in more damage than one that stops.
    — Velvet Wu July 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of propagate
Verb
  • This week's quiz highlights cruise controversies, wedding whispers — and much more.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2026
  • Recalling a former boss who whispered intimate good-byes to his appliances when his restaurant closed, Luca says that the head chef didn’t receive similar farewells from his employees.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • Studies reveal a growing 'proximity bias,' where in-office employees are more likely to receive promotions and recognition, with career prospects for remote workers declining.
    — Colleen Batchelder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The alleged rape was reported by The Athletic in May, though the identity of the player was not revealed at the time.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Definition of reveal

Browse Nearby Words

circulars
circulate
circulated
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Cite this Entry

“Circulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/circulate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on circulate

Nglish: Translation of circulate for Spanish Speakers

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