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fluctuate
[ fluhk-choo-eyt ]
verb (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)
- to cause to fluctuate.
fluctuate
/ ˈflʌktjʊˌeɪt /
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
Other Words From
- non·fluctu·ating adjective
- un·fluctu·ating adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of fluctuate1
Word History and Origins
Origin of fluctuate1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
It’s not uncommon for home prices to fluctuate month to month, or dip starting in the late summer and fall due to seasonal patterns.
"Farming is getting harder," he says, blaming the fluctuating milk price, the after effects of Brexit and the difficulty in finding good staff.
Each radiologist can interpret imaging scans differently, leading to treatment strategies that fluctuate based on who views the scan.
"The investments themselves may fluctuate, but we're talking long-term," said Johnson.
It can also help to remind yourself that even negative emotions such as anxiety and anger will fluctuate over time.
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More About Fluctuate
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.
Where does fluctuate come from?
The first records of the word fluctuate come from the 1600s. It comes from the Latin verb fluctuāre, meaning “to flow,” from fluctus, “a wave.”
Waves in the ocean are always in motion, rising, falling, going back and forth—they’re always fluctuating. Still, fluctuate is most commonly applied to nonphysical things. The amount of money in your bank account will fluctuate as you make deposits and withdrawals. Fluctuation may be predictable or unpredictable. The temperature in deserts often regularly fluctuates between the day, when it’s very hot, and the night, when it can get very cold. But a person’s mood might fluctuate—between happy and grumpy, for example—much more unpredictably.
Things that fluctuate can be said to be in a state of flux—continuous change. (The word flux comes from the same root as fluctuate).
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to fluctuate?
- fluctuation (noun)
- nonfluctuating (adjective)
- unfluctuating (adjective)
What are some synonyms for fluctuate?
What are some words that share a root or word element with fluctuate?
What are some words that often get used in discussing fluctuate?
How is fluctuate used in real life?
Fluctuate can be used in all kinds of contexts, but it’s most often used in discussion of intangible things.
Temperatures can fluctuate up to 50º Fahrenheit in a single day in Canyonlands National Park. http://ow.ly/1sjDi
— Nat Geo Channel (@NatGeoChannel) March 30, 2010
My mood fluctuates more than the stock market.
— Sailing Cloud (@twinitisha) July 31, 2016
I'm sorry you're having a hard time finding the turkey variety right now. Inventory levels at the store are fluctuating, but our production teams are working hard to get them back on the shelves.
— SPAM® Brand (@SPAMbrand) August 20, 2020
Try using fluctuate!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym for fluctuate?
A. waver
B. veer
C. oscillate
D. persist
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