oscillate
verb (used without object)
to swing or move to and fro, as a pendulum does.
oscillated
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past participleof oscillate.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof oscillate.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
oscillateverb (used without object)to swing or move to and fro, as a pendulum does.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
International oil prices have oscillated under $90 a barrel in recent days.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
Its overall light field oscillated in the same direction, even though it contained photons of different colors traveling along many different paths.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
Culturally, hyper-machismo has oscillated from cool to lame to ironically cool and back again for decades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
Even though the stock-bond correlation has oscillated widely over the years, this ratio has remained remarkably constant — as you can see from the chart above.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 2026
His rebellious spirit made him violate all the taboos and consequently he always oscillated between moods of intense elation and depression.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
