oscillate
verb
os·cil·late
ˈä-sə-ˌlāt 
oscillated; oscillating
1
a
: to swing backward and forward like a pendulum
The fan was oscillating.
b
: to move or travel back and forth between two points
he oscillates regularly between his comfortable home … and his downtown office-laboratory—
Gladwin Hill
Gladwin Hill2
: to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories
The mood of the voters has oscillated between optimism and pessimism.
3
: to vary above and below a mean value
Bank rate oscillates between 2 and 6 percent.
Examples of oscillate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Singing over oscillating synths and intense percussion, Cyrus — who previously sang a live cover of the song during her November performance at the Chateau Marmont in L.A. — injects her own flair and pop-star energy into David Byrne’s sauntering original.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 May 2024
Where to watch: Hulu Mad Men The slick glamour of the 1960s advertising world is the backdrop for Mad Men, a dark drama that oscillates around the charismatic, though hard-drinking and philandering executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm).
—Cady Lang, TIME, 16 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for oscillate 
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 May 2024
Where to watch: Hulu Mad Men The slick glamour of the 1960s advertising world is the backdrop for Mad Men, a dark drama that oscillates around the charismatic, though hard-drinking and philandering executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm).
—Cady Lang, TIME, 16 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for oscillate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oscillate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near oscillate
Cite this Entry
“Oscillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillate. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oscillate
verb
os·cil·late
ˈäs-ə-ˌlāt
oscillated; oscillating
1
a
: to swing backward and forward like a pendulum
b
: to move or travel back and forth between two points
2
: to have trouble deciding between opposing beliefs, feelings, or ideas
Medical Definition
oscillate
intransitive verb
os·cil·late
ˈäs-ə-ˌlāt
oscillated; oscillating
1
: to swing backward and forward like a pendulum
2
: to move or travel back and forth between two points
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