oscillate

verb

Definition of oscillatenext
1
as in to fluctuate
to move back and forth in a rhythmic manner When a guitar string is plucked, it oscillates to produce sound waves in the air.

Related Words

Relevance
2
as in to alternate
to continuously change from one belief, feeling, or condition to an opposite one The model's hair color oscillates between bleach blond and jet black.

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb oscillate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of oscillate are fluctuate, sway, swing, undulate, vibrate, and waver. While all these words mean "to move from one direction to its opposite," oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.

an oscillating fan

Where would fluctuate be a reasonable alternative to oscillate?

While the synonyms fluctuate and oscillate are close in meaning, fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.

fluctuating interest rates

When is it sensible to use sway instead of oscillate?

The words sway and oscillate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.

trees swaying in the breeze

When is swing a more appropriate choice than oscillate?

The synonyms swing and oscillate are sometimes interchangeable, but swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.

the door suddenly swung open

In what contexts can undulate take the place of oscillate?

The meanings of undulate and oscillate largely overlap; however, undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.

an undulating sea of grass

When would vibrate be a good substitute for oscillate?

While in some cases nearly identical to oscillate, vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.

the vibrating strings of a piano

When could waver be used to replace oscillate?

Although the words waver and oscillate have much in common, waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.

the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oscillate Honeywell Quiet Set Tower Fan The fan has five speed settings and an oscillating setting that helps circulate a cool breeze throughout the room. —Clint Davis, People.com, 3 July 2025 Its gentle vibrations are easier on gums than the more aggressive oscillating brushes. —Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 3 July 2025 Over the next six hours, 'Roo-goers were asked to shelter in their vehicles as weather oscillated between gentle showers and thunderstorms. —Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 The anguish lacing through the satire-obsessed ’90s burns like a hangover, at the same time mocking and cherishing the inert residue of hope that history might keep moving forward, rather than oscillating stupidly between revolution and revanchism. —Alice Bolin june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for oscillate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillate
  1. fluctuate
  2. alternate
  3. undulate
  4. swing
Verb
  • Supply chains are far too intricate to accurately forecast the impacts of any single event on availability and pricing, and with tariffs fluctuating without advance notice, prices can shift dramatically faster than traditional quarterly cycles allow.
    — Rochelle Thielen, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Sophisticated electronics can be damaged by high humidity, dust, and fluctuating temperatures.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2025
Definition of fluctuate
Verb
  • The 787s will be outfitted with 48 The Room FX suites, arranged in a one-two-one configuration and spread across two cabins, with seats alternating between forward and rear-facing.
    — AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 29 July 2025
  • The Asia Cup is its money-spinning crown jewel and played every two years in September - alternating between the 20 and 50-over formats.
    — Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
Definition of alternate
Verb
  • The Black Lava Rock Lounge on the fourth floor, for example, faces the monorail and has more hanging gardens as well as a mural with an erupting volcano; the Lagoon Reef Terrace features undulating blue walls depicting a giant coral reef.
    — Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2025
  • Royal Portrush is more than 7,300 yards long, has brutally narrow fairways, pot bunkers and undulating greens that will test the best golfers in the world.
    — Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Definition of undulate
Verb
  • Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer recently suggested the Houston Astros could swing a blockbuster trade deadline deal for Miami Marlins hurler Edward Cabrera in the coming days.
    — Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
  • Never did Nick Kurtz consider this, not as a young boy learning to swing left-handed in Lancaster, Pa., or during the charmed collegiate career that catapulted him into baseball’s consciousness.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 26 July 2025
Definition of swing

Browse Nearby Words

orthopedists
oscillate
oscillated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oscillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillate. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on oscillate

Nglish: Translation of oscillate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
iykyk if you know you know slang written in a neon
Quiz: Abbreviation Station TFW you have to figure out what 15 abbreviations ...
See All