circulate
verb
cir·cu·late
ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt 
circulated; circulating
1
2
: to pass from person to person or place to place: such as
a
: to flow without obstruction
b
: to become well-known or widespread
rumors circulated through the town
c
: to go from group to group at a social gathering
d
: to come into the hands of readers
specifically
: to become sold or distributed
: to cause to circulate
Examples of circulate in a Sentence
Blood circulates through the body.
Steam circulates in the pipes.
A pump circulates the water through the filter.
Rumors are circulating around town.
The report circulated among the students.
Stories were circulated about mismanagement.
He is circulating a petition asking for a new election.
She circulated among her guests.
Recent Examples on the Web
However, less than 48 hours after the end of the regular tax filing season, word circulated that the program would be axed.
—
Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
However, reports are circulating that schools are offering less than half of his original pay.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The rumor circulated quickly on social media, as rumors do on social media.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
At the meeting, grassroots scientists circulated a petition asking SBM’s leadership to join the ACLU’s lawsuit.
—Angel Algarin, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circulate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
However, reports are circulating that schools are offering less than half of his original pay.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The rumor circulated quickly on social media, as rumors do on social media.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
At the meeting, grassroots scientists circulated a petition asking SBM’s leadership to join the ACLU’s lawsuit.
—Angel Algarin, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for circulate
Cite this Entry
“Circulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circulate. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
circulate
verb
cir·cu·late
ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt
circulated; circulating
1
: to move or cause to move in a circle or course
especially
: to follow a course that returns to the starting point
blood circulates through the body
2
: to pass or be passed from person to person or place to place
circulate a rumor
Medical Definition
circulate
intransitive verb
cir·cu·late
ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt
circulated; circulating
: to flow or be propelled naturally through a closed system of channels (as blood vessels)
blood circulates through the body
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