Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To cause to move around or through a closed system or area: To make something flow or pass continuously along a path, often returning to its starting point.
   • To distribute or pass something among a group of people: To cause information, documents, or items to be spread among people.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To move continuously through a closed system or area: To flow along a path, often in a circuit.
   • To move freely among people at a social gathering: To move around and interact with different people in a group.
   • To become widely known or distributed: To spread among people or through an area.

Usage Examples

• Transitive Verb:

  • Please circulate the memo to all department heads. (Cause to be distributed)
  • The fan helps circulate the air in the room. (Cause to move around)
  • They tried to circulate a false rumor about the merger. (Cause to become widely known)

• Intransitive Verb:

  • Blood must circulate properly for good health. (Move in a circuit)
  • At the party, it's polite to circulate and talk to different guests. (Move around freely among people)
  • The news of his resignation began to circulate quickly through the office. (Become widely known)

Advanced Usage

• "to circulate a petition": To pass a document around for people to read and sign.

  • Activists are circulating a petition to save the local park.

• "to circulate widely": To spread over a large area or among many people.

  • The article circulated widely on social media.

Variants and Related Words

• Circulation (n): The movement or passage of something in a closed system, or the number of copies of a publication distributed.

  • The newspaper has a daily circulation of 500,000 copies.
  • Regular exercise improves blood circulation.

• Circulatory (adj): Relating to the movement of blood through the body.

  • The heart is the main organ of the circulatory system.

Synonyms

• Distribute: To give out or deliver something to a number of people.
• Spread: To become distributed or widely known.
• Flow: To move in a steady, continuous stream.
• Propagate: To spread and promote an idea, theory, etc., widely.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Circulate" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed through the verb itself with prepositions like "among," "through," or "around.")

Related Idioms

• "Money/currency in circulation": The total amount of money that is being used in an economy at a given time.

  • The central bank increased the amount of money in circulation.

• "To get into circulation": To begin to be used, seen, or known by people.

  • The new stamps will get into circulation next month.

Verb

1. cause to move around
   • circulate a rumor
2. move around freely
   • She circulates among royalty
3. cause to move in a circuit or system
   • The fan circulates the air in the room
4. move in circles
5. move through a space, circuit or system, returning to the starting point
   • Blood circulates in my veins
   • The air here does not circulate
6. cause be distributed
   • This letter is being circulated among the faculty
7. cause to become widely known
   • spread information
   • circulate a rumor
   • broadcast the news
8. become widely known and passed on
   • the rumor spread
   • the story went around in the office