recursive

recursive — adjective

1. describes a process where the same rule or action is applied repeatedly, and eac

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a process where the same rule or action is applied repeatedly, and each step builds on or changes something from the previous one, usually to reach a final result

Example

The trainer used a recursive practice routine, making Caio repeat each swimming stroke until his form was perfect.

recursive practice routine — repeat an action until a standard is met

A nursery rhyme with a recursive pattern added one new line to the verse each time the class sang.

Common collocations
  • recursive process
  • recursive pattern
  • recursive structure
  • recursive method
  • recursive routine
Synonyms
  • iterative

    more technical; commonly used in engineering and software contexts where each cycle refines a previous version

  • cyclical

    focuses on the idea of returning to a starting point rather than building toward a result

  • repetitive

    simpler and more general; does not imply that each repetition builds on the last

Antonyms
  • one-off

    describes something done only once with no repetition

  • linear

    describes a process that moves forward in a straight sequence without looping back

Grammar Patterns

recursive + noun

be recursive

Usage Note

Frequently used to describe narratives, training methods, or production processes that involve multiple passes, with each pass refining or advancing toward a goal.

Common Mistakes

The teacher gave a recursive explanation that repeated the same fact five times.
The teacher gave a repetitive explanation that repeated the same fact five times.
'recursive' implies a structured process where each repetition adds something; it is not a synonym for 'repetitive'.

2. in computing and mathematics, describes a function, rule, or procedure that cont

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

in computing and mathematics, describes a function, rule, or procedure that contains a reference to itself, so that solving a problem means repeatedly applying the same method to smaller versions of that same problem

Example

Christopher wrote a recursive function that called itself to calculate the sum of all numbers from one to ten.

recursive function — calls itself

The mathematics textbook showed how a recursive formula defines each term based on the term before it.

Common collocations
  • recursive function
  • recursive algorithm
  • recursive call
  • recursive formula
  • recursive definition
Synonyms
  • self-referential

    broader; can describe any system that refers to itself, not limited to formal computing

  • self-calling

    less common but more literal; used mainly to explain recursion to beginners

Antonyms
  • iterative

    describes a method that uses loops rather than self-calling functions to achieve repetition

  • non-recursive

    neutral label for any procedure that does not use recursion

Grammar Patterns

recursive + noun

be recursive

Usage Note

In computing, a recursive procedure must include a base case — a condition that stops the self-call — otherwise it will loop forever and crash the program. This sense is most common in technical writing and computer science education.

Common Mistakes

She wrote a recursive loop that repeated the block of code ten times.
She wrote an iterative loop that repeated the block of code ten times.
In programming, 'recursive' describes a function calling itself, while 'iterative' describes loops (for, while) that repeat steps without self-reference.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words describe processes that happen more than once, but they differ in structure and purpose. 'Recursive' (this sense) implies a structured repetition where each cycle builds on or changes something from the previous one, often moving toward a result — for example, a recursive training drill where each round corrects the mistakes of the last. 'Iterative' is similar but more technical, commonly used in engineering and software: an iterative design cycle refines a prototype version by version. 'Cyclical' focuses on returning to a starting point, like seasons or economic booms and busts, without necessarily making progress. 'Repetitive' is the simplest and most general term; it means something happens many times but does not imply any connection or improvement between repetitions. For instance, a factory worker's repetitive task might be the exact same motion each time, while a recursive editing process would catch different errors on each read-through.

iterativecyclicalrepetitive ↗recursive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • infinitely
  • mutually
  • indefinitely

Phrases

  • recursive function
  • recursive algorithm
  • recursive call
  • recursive definition
  • recursive structure

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Comes from the Latin verb 'recurrere', meaning 'to run back'. The past participle stem 'recurs-' combined with the English suffix '-ive' to form 'recursive'. The mathematical and computing sense grew out of the general idea of 'running back' to a previous step, and became widely used in the mid-1900s when computer scientists formalised the concept of a procedure that calls itself.