fluctuate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to change continually; shift back and forth; vary irregularly.
The price of gold fluctuated wildly last month.
-
to move back and forth in waves.
- Synonyms:
- oscillate
verb (used with object)
verb
-
to change or cause to change position constantly; be or make unstable; waver or vary
-
(intr) to rise and fall like a wave; undulate
Usage
What does fluctuate mean? Fluctuate means to continually change or shift back and forth. The verb is most commonly used in the context of abstract or intangible things that frequently change, such as temperature, the stock market, or someone’s mood. This kind of continual change is called fluctuation. Example: The volume on my TV keeps fluctuating—it gets louder during commercials and then it gets quiet again when the show comes back on.
Related Words
See waver 1.
Other Word Forms
- nonfluctuating adjective
- unfluctuating adjective
Etymology
Origin of fluctuate
First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin fluctuātus “undulated,” past participle of fluctuāre “to flow,” equivalent to fluctu(s) “a flowing” (derivative of fluere “to flow”) + -ātus -ate 1
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.
The renewed attention around his career comes at a time when conversations about labor, dignity, and public perception remain ongoing, particularly in industries where visibility can fluctuate dramatically.
From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026
Rates fluctuate constantly, and you don’t want to rely too heavily on a single product when you need to keep up with inflation and make your money last the rest of your life.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026
To be sure, oil prices can fluctuate wildly in times of uncertainty.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
OTTAWA—Labor productivity for Canadian businesses continued to fluctuate into the end of last year, slipping slightly in the final quarter as economic activity pulled back.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026
They kept their heads steady and mouths aimed at the microphone so that the volume of their voices didn’t fluctuate.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
