fluctuate

verb fluc·tu·ate \ ˈflək-chə-ˌwāt , -chü-ˌāt \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: fluctuate in a Sentence

Definition of fluctuate

fluctuated; fluctuating

intransitive verb

1 : to shift back and forth uncertainly

Oil prices fluctuated.

Temperatures fluctuated.

2 : to rise and fall in or as if in waves

The boat fluctuated on the rough sea.

transitive verb

: to cause to fluctuate

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fluctuation

play \ˌflək-chə-ˈwā-shən, -chü-ˈā-\ noun

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fluctuational

play \ˌflək-chə-ˈwā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl, -chü-ˈā-\ adjective

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Examples of fluctuate in a Sentence

His popularity has fluctuated during his term in office.
In the desert, the temperature fluctuates dramatically.

Recent Examples of fluctuate from the Web

On a recent conference call with investors, Waste Management CEO James Fish said the company has no choice but to charge its customers more to smooth out the risks of fluctuating prices.

— scott dance, baltimoresun.com, "Rise of 'wishcycling,' plummeting value of paper and glass raise concerns about 'a new reality of recycling'," 20 June 2018
Samples of ancient mudstone yielded a diversity of organic molecules in SAM’s oven—and in a separate study, five years’ worth of atmospheric samples gathered by SAM tracked fluctuating levels of methane that peaked in the Martian summer.

— adam mann, Scientific American, "Curiosity Rover Uncovers Long-Sought Organic Materials on Martian Surface," 7 June 2018
The list also evolves to reflect new openings, closings, changes in personnel and/or ownership and fluctuating levels of quality determined during unannounced visits.

— brett anderson, NOLA.com, "Echo's Pizza, Gabrielle, Kin, LA 23 BBQ, Zimmer's make the cut for Critic's Picks," 6 June 2018
Progress has stalled since 2005, with the number of minority head coaches fluctuating between six and eight.

— harry lyles jr., The Verge, "The NFL’s Rooney Rule won’t solve tech’s diversity problem," 5 June 2018
More seasonable warmth will prevail through the week, with the mercury fluctuating between the middle 70s and middle 80s.

— tom skilling, chicagotribune.com, "Seasonable warmth to define week ahead," 3 June 2018
This is not sustainable based on growth and fluctuating property taxes.

— scott maxwell, OrlandoSentinel.com, "15 questions for the candidates for Orange County mayor. Where do they stand?," 24 May 2018
Ponzi tried to take advantage of wildly fluctuating exchange rates following World War I, buying and selling international postal reply coupons and promising investors a 50 percent return on their money within 45 days.

— simon r. gardner, The Atlantic, "98 Years of Mail Fraud," 4 May 2018
Medicines kept in areas with high humidity or fluctuating temperatures — like a bathroom cabinet — or left in direct light degrade faster and can lose potency.

— Washington Post, "Pill expiration dates can have wiggle room if stored right," 2 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fluctuate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fluctuate

Latin fluctuatus, past participle of fluctuare, from fluctus flow, wave, from fluere — more at fluid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1604

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

See Words from the same year

fluctuate Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of fluctuate

swing, sway, oscillate, vibrate, fluctuate, waver, undulate mean to move from one direction to its opposite. swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.