Definition

To transform old or discarded materials into new products that are of better quality or have more useful features.

Example

She decided to upcycle old furniture instead of throwing it away.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you ever thought about how to upcycle old furniture?

Yeah, I love the idea of giving new life to something that's been thrown away.

I just found a great tutorial on how to upcycle an old chair.

That's awesome! I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Upcycle → It is formed from "up-" (meaning higher or to a greater degree) and "cycle" (from Greek "kyklos", meaning circle or wheel). The word "upcycle" means to transform waste materials into products of higher value or quality, thus elevating their use.

Memory Tip

Think of taking something and making it 'higher' in value ('up-') by giving it a new 'cycle' or purpose.

Visually Confused Words