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
Rapid oscillations trigger muscle contractions that can indirectly support lymph movement.
—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
When two black holes collide, their song ripples through the very fabric of existence, creating a thundering chorus of oscillations in spacetime that echo across the universe like the fading gong of a bell.
—
Sam MacDonald,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
China’s Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) launched in 2025; initial data published in June 2026 provided the most precise measurements of neutrino oscillation reported to date.
—
Simon Frantz,
Quanta Magazine,
24 June 2026
Dyson Air Purifier and Fan Deals Quiet yet powerful, the Dyson AM07 tower fan offers 10 precise airflow settings and 70-degree oscillation to keep you cool in hot weather.
—
Cierra Cowan,
PC Magazine,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
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Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 June 2026
When two black holes collide, their song ripples through the very fabric of existence, creating a thundering chorus of oscillations in spacetime that echo across the universe like the fading gong of a bell.
—
Sam MacDonald,
Scientific American,
26 June 2026
China’s Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) launched in 2025; initial data published in June 2026 provided the most precise measurements of neutrino oscillation reported to date.
—
Simon Frantz,
Quanta Magazine,
24 June 2026
Dyson Air Purifier and Fan Deals Quiet yet powerful, the Dyson AM07 tower fan offers 10 precise airflow settings and 70-degree oscillation to keep you cool in hot weather.
—
Cierra Cowan,
PC Magazine,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillation. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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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