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to fluctuate

to fluctuate

52 6.3
Change often in level or amount, going up and down without a clear pattern
  • verb
  • /ˈflʌk.tʃu.eɪt/
translation icon : oscilar
  • Stock prices tend to fluctuate based on market trends and investor sentiment.
  • prices fluctuate
  • fluctuate seasonally
  • fluctuate wildly

Allows particles, virtual particles, to fluctuate in and out of existence.

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Examples

  • Today's temperatures are not going to fluctuate much.

  • So it has a price and that price will fluctuate and you can then bet on the commodities exchange.

  • Gold and real estate fluctuate where art just goes up.

  • And it would fluctuate between those two, like every couple of years.

  • It's something that might sort of fluctuate as you go from one place to another.

  • And borders used to fluctuate all the time.

  • Otherwise, if they fluctuate a lot, then it's hard to make it precise.

  • During the first months of 1992, the annual rate fluctuated between 8 and 9 percent, a remarkable success.

    Academic text (1991)
  • And you know, the company's valuation fluctuates quite a lot.

  • Now, as a mom, my work schedule fluctuates depending on my children's preschool/school hours.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

to drift
vsto fluctuate
30 3.8

To change slowly over time without clear control

changes up and down unpredictably instead of moving slowly in one direction
to waver
vsto fluctuate
12 4.8

To move or shake in a slight, unsteady way

changes up and down unpredictably rather than just trembling or shaking
to oscillate
vsto fluctuate
8 6.5

Move back and forth in a steady rhythm like a fan

changes unpredictably rather than moving with fixed regular rhythm
to vacillate
vsto fluctuate
1 8.4

To move slowly back and forth like a boat or kite

changes unpredictably up and down rather than in smooth waves

Antonyms

75 4.3

To become steady and stop changing

How Variable

to fluctuate
52 6.3
to oscillate
8 6.5
to vary
239 2.5
change
1.1

Surface Forms

fluctuate infinitive
fluctuated past
fluctuated past participle
fluctuating present participle
fluctuates third person singular

Morphology

fluctuate = fluctu + ate

The verb is formed from the Latin combining form 'fluctu-' plus the productive verb-forming suffix '-ate'; 'fluctu-' is not a standalone English word, so learners cannot reliably infer the meaning from English component words.

Etymology

Fluctuate comes from the Latin word fluctus, meaning 'wave', and from fluere, 'to flow', which is the same idea as the English word flow. So to fluctuate is to rise and fall or change often, like waves moving up and down.