Circulate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt/ cir·cu·late

Meaning & Definition of Circulate

Circulate (verb)

  1. to move in a circle, circuit, or orbit; especially, to follow a course that returns to the starting point
  2. to pass from person to person or place to place
  3. to flow without obstruction

Circulate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to be known over a considerable area or by many people

    "circulate the plans for the new stadium around town to get people's reaction"

    similar: broadcast, disseminate, propagate, spread
    related: radiate, sprawl, diffuse, dispense, disperse, dissipate, scatter, sow, communicate, convey, impart, pass (on), transmit
    near: cloak, conceal, enshroud, hide, hold (in), mask, obscure, secrete, shroud, veil, contain, limit, restrict

  2. to make (as a piece of information) the subject of common talk without any authority or confirmation of accuracy

    "circulated a rumor that someone was about to be fired"

    similar: bruit (about), noise (about or abroad), rumor, whisper
    related: bandy (about), blab, dish, gossip, tattle, bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), report, reveal, spill, tell, hint, imply, insinuate, intimate, suggest, blaze, broadcast, proclaim, promulgate, propagate, publicize, spread

  3. to become known

    "the prince denies the story about an extramarital affair that's been circulating in the tabloids"

    similar: break, come out, get about, get around, get out, get round, leak (out), out, spread
    related: develop, transpire, unfold, disclose, reveal, spill, tell
    near: hush (up), suppress, conceal, disguise, hide, mask, secrete

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Circulate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Circulate:

broadcast, disseminate, propagate, spread, bruit (about), noise (about or abroad), rumor, whisper, break, come out, get about, get around, get out, get round, leak (out), out

Related Words for Circulate

radiate, sprawl, diffuse, dispense, disperse, dissipate, scatter, sow, communicate, convey, impart, pass (on), transmit, bandy (about), blab, dish, gossip, tattle, bare, disclose, divulge, expose, let on (about), report, reveal, spill, tell, hint, imply, insinuate

Near Antonyms of Circulate

cloak, conceal, enshroud, hide, hold (in), mask, obscure, secrete, shroud, veil, contain, limit, restrict, hush (up), suppress, disguise

Word Forms of Circulate

Inflections: circulated, circulating

Derived words: circulatable (adjective), circulative (adjective), circulator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Circulate

Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare, from circulus

First known use: 1603i

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Circulate

Frequently Asked Questions about Circulate

What does "Circulate" mean?

"Circulate" means to move in a circle, circuit, or orbit; especially, to follow a course that returns to the starting point. As a verb, it is defined as: to move in a circle, circuit, or orbit; especially, to follow a course that returns to the starting point. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Circulate"?

Other words for "Circulate" include broadcast, disseminate, propagate, spread, bruit (about), noise (about or abroad), rumor and whisper. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Circulate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Circulate"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Circulate". Common alternatives include broadcast, disseminate, propagate, spread, bruit (about), noise (about or abroad), rumor, whisper, break and come out.

How do you use "Circulate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Circulate" in a sentence: "circulate the plans for the new stadium around town to get people's reaction"; "circulated a rumor that someone was about to be fired"; "the prince denies the story about an extramarital affair that's been circulating in the tabloids".

Is "Circulate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Circulate" is a verb.

Is "Circulate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Circulate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Circulate"?

"Circulate" is pronounced /ˈsər-kyə-ˌlāt/ and divided into syllables as cir·cu·late.

What is the origin of the word "Circulate"?

"Circulate" comes from Latin circulatus, past participle of circulare, from circulus. First known use: 1603i.