fluctuate

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To vary irregularly; to swing.
2. (intransitive) To undulate.
3. (intransitive) To be irresolute; to waver.
4. (transitive) To cause to vary irregularly.
5. (also, figuratively, literally, rare) To rise and fall as a wave; to be tossed up and down the waves.

Adj

1. (obsolete) Tossed up and down the waves.
2. (broadly, obsolete) Wavering, fickle.

Synonyms

change

waver

vary

vacillate

swing

shift

oscillate

undulate

alter

shake

🫨

sway

modify

move

operate

run

vibrate

falter

work

become different

float about

stir

surge

hesitate

alternate

shuttlecock

stagger

surging

swing to and fro

transferred

transform

unsteady

up and down

veer

wag

wave

👋

wobble

be touched

be transferred

be uncertain

wave motion

be influenced

be irresolute

rock to and fro

impulsive motion

undulatory motion

about-face

wave-motion

bandy

billow

budge

Translations

fluctuer

oscillare

schwanken

fluttuare

fluctuar

fluktuieren

fluctuar

değişmek

varier

διακυμαίνομαι

osciller

κυμαίνομαι

oscilar

schommelen

vaciller

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈflʌkt͡ʃu.eɪt/

Etymology

First attested in the 1630'; borrowed from Latin flūctuātus, perfect passive participle of flūctuō (“(of the sea) to surge, swell; (of man) to waver, fluctuate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).