upcycling

up·cy·cle
U1P3C3Y4C3L1I1N1G2
US, UK/ˈʌpsaɪklɪŋ/

noun

The act of converting (waste materials, etc.) into new materials or products of higher quality and greater functionality.

Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounupcycling (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe act of converting (waste materials, etc.) into new materials or products of higher quality and greater functionality.
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of upcycle.

Origin

From upcycle + -ing.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

upcycling. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/upcycling

MLA

“upcycling.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/upcycling. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “upcycling,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/upcycling.

Source: upcycling on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.