1
: an interval of time during which a sequence of a recurring succession of events or phenomena is completed
a 4-year cycle of growth and development
2
a
: a course or series of events or operations that recur regularly and usually lead back to the starting point
… the common cycle of birth, growth, senescence, and death.—
T. C. Schneirla and Gerard Piel
T. C. Schneirla and Gerard Piel
b
: one complete performance of a vibration, electric oscillation, current alternation, or other periodic process
c
: a permutation of a set of ordered elements in which each element takes the place of the next and the last becomes first
d
: a takeoff and landing of an airplane
3
: a circular or spiral arrangement: such as
a
: an imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens
b
4
: a long period of time : age
5
a
: a group of creative works (such as poems, plays, or songs) treating the same theme
a cycle of poems about unrequited love
b
: a series of narratives dealing typically with the exploits of a legendary hero
the Arthurian cycle
6
7
: the series of a single, double, triple, and home run hit in any order by one player during one baseball game
cycled; cycling
ˈsī-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
a
: to pass through a cycle
The menu cycles through all the options.
Because the traditional HVAC system cycles on and off—and is powered down when you leave—relief is inconsistent at best.—Sarah Littleton
Sarah Littleton
b
: to recur in cycles
Freezing temperatures … aren't the problem. It's when temperatures cycle between freezing and thaws, causing pavement to contract and expand … that can create larger issues.—Jonathan Oosting
Jonathan Oosting2
: to ride a cycle
: to cause to go through a cycle
The fact that it [the pump] runs constantly may be a bad sign. It may be cycling the water, not removing it.—Popular Mechanics
Popular MechanicsEverything is constantly cycled in nature. There is abundant waste in nature, just as there is in industry, but in nature waste constantly flows back into living systems.—Paul Hawken and William McDonough
Paul Hawken and William McDonoughSynonyms
Examples of cycle in a Sentence
Noun
We have to wait for the dishwasher's wash and dry cycles to end.
the spin cycle on a washing machine
He rode his cycle into town.
Verb
The water is cycled back into the system after it has been used.
The water cycles back into the system.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
College students from Zhengzhou cycle to Kaifeng, China, on Saturday night.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
Jack Kelly, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
An 11-year-old hockey fan paid tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, who were fatally struck by a car while cycling, with his innovative costume.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cycle 
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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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Noun
One button toggles which of the two lights are on, and the other button cycles brightness levels and red.
—Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
College students from Zhengzhou cycle to Kaifeng, China, on Saturday night.
—Peter Guo, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
Additionally, employees who cycle to work can access onsite bike cages and shower facilities, as well as subsidized parking rates at Amazon facilities.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
An 11-year-old hockey fan paid tribute to Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau, who were fatally struck by a car while cycling, with his innovative costume.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cycle
Dictionary Entries Near cycle
Cite this Entry
“Cycle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cycle. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cycle
1 of 2 noun
cy·cle
ˈsī-kəl
1
: a period of time taken up by a series of events or actions that repeat themselves regularly and in the same order
the cycle of the seasons
2
a
: a series of events or operations that happen again and again regularly and usually lead back to the starting point
the cycle of blood from the heart, through the blood vessels, and back again
the drying cycle of a dishwasher
b
: one complete occurrence of a cycle
a cycle of alternating current
the cycle of a vibration
3
: a long period of time : age
cyclic
adjective
ˈsī-klik
also ˈsik-lik
or cyclical
ˈsī-kli-kəl,
ˈsik-li-
cyclically
adverb
-k(ə-)lē
cycle
2 of 2 verb
cy·cle
ˈsī-kəl,
ˈsik-əl
cycled; cycling
ˈsī-k(ə-)liŋ,
ˈsik(-ə)-liŋ
: to ride a bicycle or motorcycle
Medical Definition
cycle
1 of 2 noun
cy·cle
ˈsī-kəl
1
: a recurring series of events: as
a(1)
: a series of stages through which an organism tends to pass once in a fixed order
the common cycle of birth, growth, senescence and death—T. C. Schneirla & Gerard Piel
T. C. Schneirla & Gerard Piel
also
: a series of stages through which a population of organisms tends to pass more or less in synchrony
the mosquito-hatching cycle
see life cycle
(2)
: a series of physiological, biochemical, or psychological stages that recur in the same individual see cardiac cycle, menstrual cycle krebs cycle
b
: one complete performance of a vibration, electric oscillation, current alternation, or other periodic process
c
: a series of ecological stages through which a substance tends to pass and which usually but not always leads back to the starting point
the cycle of nitrogen in the living world
2
cycle
2 of 2 intransitive verb
cycled; cycling
: to undergo the estrous cycle
the mare has begun cycling
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