oscillate

Meaning

1. (intransitive) To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
2. (intransitive) To vacillate between conflicting opinions, etc.
3. (intransitive) To vary above and below a mean value.

Synonyms

swing

sway

vibrate

vacillate

rock

🪨

shake

🫨

wave

👋

wobble

waver

fluctuate

flutter

dangle

fan

bounce

brandish

jolt

roll

jar

🫙

tremble

pendulate

rock to and fro

jerk

balance

bump

oscillating movement

rattle

stagger

seesaw

shimmy

teeter

hover

swerve

swinging

thrill

swing to and fro

totter

trembling

tremor

unsteady

vibes

vibrating

vibration

wabble

waffle

🧇

wag

waggle

wiggle

wobbling

be uncertain

be undecided

Translations

osciller

oscillare

oscilar

oscilar

ταλαντεύομαι

oscilleren

oscil·lar

schommelen

slingeren

oszillieren

pendeln

αιωρούμαι

ταλαντεύω

vibrieren

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɑsɪleɪt/

Etymology

First attested in 1726; borrowed from Latin ōscillātus, perfect passive participle of Latin ōscillō (“to swing”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ōscillum (“a swing”), usually identified with ōscillum (“a little face or mask hung on a tree that sways with the wind”), diminutive of ōs (“mouth, face”). Doublet of osculate.