cycle
B2Neutral (common in both formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A series of events that repeat regularly in the same order
A complete set or period of repeating phenomena; also a bicycle or motorcycle
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Noun sense (repeating sequence) is most common; verb sense means 'to ride a bicycle'; 'bicycle' is more specific than 'cycle' for the vehicle
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'cycle' as a verb commonly means 'to ride a bicycle.' In US English, 'bike' or 'bicycle' is more common as a verb. In UK English, 'cycle lane' is standard; in US English, 'bike lane' is more frequent.
Connotations
In academic/scientific contexts, identical in both varieties. In everyday speech, UK English associates 'cycle' more strongly with bicycles.
Frequency
Noun usage frequency is similar. Verb usage ('to cycle') is notably more frequent in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cycle (v) + through + [period/stages]cycle (v) + [distance/time]the cycle (n) + of + [noun]be stuck in a cycle + of + [noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break the cycle”
- “Vicious cycle/vicious circle”
- “Come full cycle”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to economic or product development phases (e.g., 'business cycle', 'product life cycle').
Academic
Used in sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) for repeating processes (e.g., 'Krebs cycle', 'water cycle').
Everyday
Common for discussing routines, bicycles, or repeating patterns (e.g., 'I cycle to work', 'the cycle of seasons').
Technical
In computing: a complete sequence of operations. In engineering: a complete series of changes in a system.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She cycles to school every day.
- We cycled through the Cotswolds last summer.
- The system cycles through different modes automatically.
American English
- She bikes to school every day.
- We biked through the Rockies last summer.
- The system cycles through different modes automatically.
adjective
British English
- Cycle lanes are becoming more common.
- Cycle safety is a major concern.
- They attended a cycle maintenance workshop.
American English
- Bike lanes are becoming more common.
- Bicycle safety is a major concern.
- They attended a bike maintenance workshop.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The seasons change in a cycle.
- I like to cycle in the park.
- She bought a new cycle.
- Water goes through a natural cycle of evaporation and rain.
- It's a vicious cycle of stress and poor sleep.
- He cycles 10 miles to work.
- The economy is currently in a downturn phase of the business cycle.
- Breaking the cycle of poverty requires systemic intervention.
- The washing machine cycles through various settings.
- Researchers are studying the biochemical cycles governing cellular respiration.
- The film explores the inescapable cycles of historical trauma.
- The algorithm optimises itself by cycling through thousands of iterations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bicycle wheel going round and round – a CYCLE repeats like the wheel's rotation.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS CIRCULAR (events return to their starting point); LIFE IS A CIRCLE/JOURNEY (phases repeat or progress in loops).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить 'cycle' (велосипед) всегда как 'велосипед' – часто это 'цикл'.
- 'To cycle' – это 'ехать на велосипеде', а не просто 'крутить педали'.
- В научном контексте 'cycle' – это 'цикл' (цикл Кребса), а не 'круг'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'circle' instead of 'cycle' for time-based repetition (e.g., 'the circle of seasons'*).
- Using 'bike' as a verb in formal UK English where 'cycle' is preferred.
- Confusing 'vicious cycle' with 'vicious circle' (both are accepted).
Practice
Quiz
In UK English, which sentence is most natural?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. It is used in highly formal scientific contexts (e.g., 'carbon cycle') and in everyday speech (e.g., 'cycle to work').
A 'circle' is a shape or a group of people. A 'cycle' is a series of events that repeat in time. A 'vicious circle' and 'vicious cycle' are idioms with the same meaning.
Primarily, but not exclusively. Its core meaning is a repeating sequence, which is often temporal. It can also refer to a single complete sequence of operations (e.g., a washing machine cycle) or be a synonym for a bicycle.
Yes. The prefix 're-' means 'again,' so 'recycle' literally means to put something through its cycle again, specifically the process of converting waste into reusable material.