recursive

adjective

re·​cur·​sive ri-ˈkər-siv How to pronounce recursive (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or involving recursion
a recursive function in a computer program
2
: of, relating to, or constituting a procedure that can repeat itself indefinitely
a recursive rule in a grammar
recursively adverb
recursiveness noun

Examples of recursive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But then the story stalls, zeroes in on some incidental detail, and collapses into a mode of reflection that is circular and recursive. — Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026 The tight loop between capital, asset issuing, and auction-as-legitimizing-engine echoed Polymarket’s recursive news-and-market-making cycle. — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 Some analysts warn of a pathway called recursive self-improvement, in which AI becomes increasingly effective at training itself, eliciting a cycle of rapid advancement. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 Both have begun to use their most sophisticated models to train the next generation, in a process known as recursive self-improvement. — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recursive

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "recurring repeatedly," from Latin recursus, past participle of recurrere "to run back, run in the opposite direction, return" + -ive; in given senses as translation of German rekurrent or rekursiv — more at recur

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of recursive was in 1934

Rhymes for recursive

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Browse Nearby Words

recursion
recursive
recursive definition
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Cite this Entry

“Recursive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recursive. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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