oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌä-sə-ˈlā-shən 
1
: the action or state of oscillating
stays can be effectively used to prevent oscillations in new bridges—
D. B. Steinman
D. B. Steinman2
: variation, fluctuation
famines due to excessive storminess and violent oscillations of rain and drought, heat and cold—Ellsworth Huntington
Ellsworth Huntington3
: a flow of electricity changing periodically from a maximum to a minimum
especially
: a flow periodically changing direction
4
: a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
Each oscillation of the pendulum represents one second.
Examples of oscillation in a Sentence
the continued oscillation of the fan
There has been oscillation between optimism and pessimism among voters.
Recent Examples on the Web
But scientists had never before been able to measure the oscillation of the magnetic moment of single protons or antiprotons—or of any other fundamental particles.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 28 July 2025
Atomic clocks count the oscillations of atoms held in a vacuum chamber within the clock itself to calculate 24 hours to the utmost degree of precision.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
This is just the normal oscillation around economic equilibrium.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
These continued through the morning of April 28 until shortly after noon, when an unusual frequency oscillation occurred.
—ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
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Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 28 July 2025
Atomic clocks count the oscillations of atoms held in a vacuum chamber within the clock itself to calculate 24 hours to the utmost degree of precision.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 July 2025
This is just the normal oscillation around economic equilibrium.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
These continued through the morning of April 28 until shortly after noon, when an unusual frequency oscillation occurred.
—ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillation. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən
1
: the action or state of oscillating : vibration
3
: a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
Medical Definition
oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən
1
: the action or state of oscillating
2
: a flow of electricity changing periodically from a maximum to a minimum
especially
: a flow periodically changing direction
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