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
The 10-year Treasury yield, a critical barometer of economic health, has oscillated between approximately 4.0% and 4.47% this year, injecting unprecedented volatility into a market typically known for its stability.
—Dan Irvine, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Whether your home has a solid central air conditioning system or a faltering window unit, investing in an oscillating fan can help cool your space more efficiently and even cut down on electricity costs.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 14 May 2025
The stock has been oscillating within a pretty clear and consistent upward-sloping trading channel ever since rebounding from the Covid lows in 2020.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 7 May 2025
Uncertainty over the economy due to President Donald Trump’s oscillating tariff policies looms large over America’s longest running sporting event and the most exciting two minutes in sports — the Kentucky Derby.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillate
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Dan Irvine, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Whether your home has a solid central air conditioning system or a faltering window unit, investing in an oscillating fan can help cool your space more efficiently and even cut down on electricity costs.
—Maggie Horton, People.com, 14 May 2025
The stock has been oscillating within a pretty clear and consistent upward-sloping trading channel ever since rebounding from the Covid lows in 2020.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 7 May 2025
Uncertainty over the economy due to President Donald Trump’s oscillating tariff policies looms large over America’s longest running sporting event and the most exciting two minutes in sports — the Kentucky Derby.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 4 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillate
Cite this Entry
“Oscillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillate. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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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