circulate

[ sur-kyuh-leyt ]

verb (used without object)

, cir·cu·lat·ed, cir·cu·lat·ing.

1. to move in a circle or circuit; move or pass through a circuit back to the starting point:

   Blood circulates throughout the body.

2. to pass from place to place, from person to person, etc.:

   She circulated among her guests.

3. to be distributed or sold, especially over a wide area.

   Synonyms: promulgate, lay, disperse

4. Library Science. (of books and other materials) to be available for borrowing by patrons of a library for a specified period of time.

verb (used with object)

, cir·cu·lat·ed, cir·cu·lat·ing.

1. to cause to pass from place to place, person to person, etc.; disseminate; distribute:

   to circulate a rumor.

2. Library Science. to lend (books and other materials) to patrons of a library for a specified period of time.

circulate

/ ˈsɜːkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to send, go, or pass from place to place or person to person

   don't circulate the news

2. to distribute or be distributed over a wide area
3. to move or cause to move through a circuit, system, etc, returning to the starting point

   blood circulates through the body

4. to move in a circle

   the earth circulates around the sun

circulate

/ sûr′kyə-lāt′ /

1. To move in or flow through a circle or a circuit. Blood circulates through the body as it flows out from the heart to the tissues and back again.

Derived Forms

• ˈcirculatory, adjective
• ˈcircuˌlator, noun
• ˈcircuˌlative, adjective

Other Words From

• circu·lata·ble adjective
• cir·cu·la·tive [sur, -ky, uh, -ley-tiv, -l, uh, -tiv], adjective
• cir·cu·la·to·ry [sur, -ky, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• inter·circu·late verb intercirculated intercirculating
• non·circu·lating adjective
• non·circu·la·tory adjective
• pre·circu·late verb precirculated precirculating
• re·circu·late verb recirculated recirculating
• un·circu·lated adjective
• un·circu·lating adjective
• un·circu·lative adjective
• well-circu·lated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of circulate¹

1425–75 for earlier senses; 1665–75 for current senses; late Middle English < Latin circulātus (past participle of circulārī to gather round one, Medieval Latin circulāre to encircle), equivalent to circul ( us ) circle + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of circulate¹

C15: from Latin circulārī to assemble in a circle, from circulus circle

Example Sentences

“Recently, a video has been circulating online that claims worms were found in our sashimi,” the sushi chain wrote.

From Salon

"As we get a better grasp on identifying and measuring these diverse circulating molecules in our bodies and how they're metabolized, we could make huge strides in personalizing medicine accordingly," says Metallo.

From Science Daily

Last week, a teenager in British Columbia was infected with a different genotype of the H5N1 than what has been circulating in the U.S.

From Salon

With a few high-profile cases like Perry’s death recently circulating in the news, others are questioning whether it is time to develop a stronger regulatory network for ketamine prescribing to prevent misuse and diversion.

From Salon

A less severe variant known as Clade II continues to circulate in the U.S., including in Los Angeles and San Francisco — two of the epicenters of the last outbreak in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• broadcast
• disperse
• disseminate
• distribute
• publicize
• publish
• spread