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
State of play: House Republicans met on reconciliation options Wednesday and heard committee chairs present essentially the same options that have been circulating over the last few weeks.
—
Marc Caputo, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
The virus has circulated among dairy cows, poultry and wild birds throughout the country.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
The nonprofit has a library that circulates 3,000 books daily, provides substance abuse and alcohol anonymous training, and offers reentry classes and chaplain services to support religious needs while at the detention center, Alcorn said.
—Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
The strain is not the same one that has been circulating in other dairy herds throughout the United States, a virus called B3.13.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for circulate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Marc Caputo, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025
The virus has circulated among dairy cows, poultry and wild birds throughout the country.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
The nonprofit has a library that circulates 3,000 books daily, provides substance abuse and alcohol anonymous training, and offers reentry classes and chaplain services to support religious needs while at the detention center, Alcorn said.
—Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025
The strain is not the same one that has been circulating in other dairy herds throughout the United States, a virus called B3.13.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for circulate
Dictionary Entries Near circulate
Cite this Entry
“Circulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circulate. Accessed 11 Feb. 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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