oscillate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to swing or move to and fro, as a pendulum does.
-
to vary or vacillate between differing beliefs, opinions, conditions, etc..
He oscillates regularly between elation and despair.
-
Physics. to have, produce, or generate oscillations.
-
Mathematics. (of a function, sequence, etc.) to tend to no limit, including infinity.
The sequence 0, 1, 0, 1, … oscillates.
verb (used with object)
verb
-
(intr) to move or swing from side to side regularly
-
(intr) to waver between opinions, courses of action, etc
-
physics to undergo or produce or cause to undergo or produce oscillation
Synonym Usage
See swing 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has oscillatedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have oscillatedperfect
-
has been oscillatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is oscillatingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been oscillatingperfect progressive
-
am oscillatingprogressive 1st person singular
-
oscillatessingular 3rd person
-
are oscillatingprogressive
-
oscillatingparticiple
Past
-
had oscillatedperfect
-
was oscillatingprogressive singular
-
had been oscillatingperfect progressive
-
were oscillatingprogressive plural
-
oscillatedsimple
-
oscillatedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of oscillate
1720–30; < Latin oscillātus (past participle of oscillāre “to swing, ride on a swing”), equivalent to oscill(um) “a swing” + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
On a hot day, you’ll be happy to have a fan that can oscillate, meaning it moves back and forth in a steady motion. The verb oscillate can be traced back to the Latin word oscillum, meaning "swing," so it makes sense that oscillate is used to describe an object like a fan or a pendulum that swings from side to side. The word also can be used to describe a different kind of motion — the wavering of someone who is going back and forth between conflicting beliefs or actions. If you’ve ever had trouble making up your mind about something, you probably know what it feels like to oscillate — back and forth from one decision and to another and then back again. And again. And again.
Vocabulary lists containing oscillate
Unit 1: Telling Details
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
For Oscillate the pace is still slow but here things get a little more clicky and glitchy as Sohn wonders, "Can we oscillate?"
From The Guardian • Nov. 22, 2012
For those who can't make either, his recent Oscillate mix is up on Mixcloud for your delectation.
From The Guardian • Jun. 29, 2012
Oscillate, os′sil-lāt, v.i. to move backwards and forwards like a pendulum: to vary between certain limits.—n.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various
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.
