circulate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to move in a circle or circuit; move or pass through a circuit back to the starting point.
Blood circulates throughout the body.
-
to pass from place to place, from person to person, etc..
She circulated among her guests.
-
to be distributed or sold, especially over a wide area.
- Synonyms:
- promulgate, lay, disperse
-
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)
-
to cause to pass from place to place, person to person, etc.; disseminate; distribute.
to circulate a rumor.
-
Library Science. to lend (books and other materials) to patrons of a library for a specified period of time.
verb
-
to send, go, or pass from place to place or person to person
don't circulate the news
-
to distribute or be distributed over a wide area
-
to move or cause to move through a circuit, system, etc, returning to the starting point
blood circulates through the body
-
to move in a circle
the earth circulates around the sun
Other Word Forms
- circulatable adjective
- circulative adjective
- circulator noun
- circulatory adjective
- intercirculate verb
- noncirculating adjective
- noncirculatory adjective
- precirculate verb
- recirculate verb
- uncirculated adjective
- uncirculating adjective
- uncirculative adjective
- well-circulated adjective
Etymology
Origin of circulate
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
Explanation
To circulate is to move continuously in a specific circuit, often in a circle. A ceiling fan circulates cool air around the room on a warm day. Blood circulates through your body, pumped from your heart through veins and arteries — your circulatory system — and delivering oxygen to your tissues. This system is closed, meaning the blood stays in your body, bringing oxygenated blood back to your heart. People circulate when they move around a room at a party, chatting with different people, and rumors circulate when they're passed in a circle, from person to person. Circulate comes from the Latin circulare, "to form a circle."
Vocabulary lists containing circulate
"Of Plymouth Plantation," Vocabulary from the historical account
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Of Plymouth Plantation" by William Bradford
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That tone carried through again here, as the incident became another example of how quickly false or mistaken reports can circulate and how quickly they can collapse under correction and context.
From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026
After the statement, a well-known photo of Donald Trump, Melania, Epstein, and Maxwell together at an event in the year 2000, standing close and looking awfully cozy, began to circulate online once again.
From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026
Mr. Spencer said he doesn’t use it at all, although he did circulate his draft among “a group of trusted friends, who I consider better writers than me.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Senators this week began to circulate a draft viewed as unfriendly to Coinbase and stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group, helping to push shares of Coinbase down about 8% and Circle nearly 20% on Tuesday.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
He’d been lying on the cool bamboo mat of his living room with the sliding doors open to allow the warm breeze to circulate through the house.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
