fluctuate

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

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

—

fluctuation

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

—

fluctuational

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

See fluctuate defined for English-language learners

See fluctuate defined for kids

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

This is crucial in an industry where the biggest problem is fluctuating supply and demand.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "South Australia to Build an Enormous Solar Thermal Plant," 15 Aug. 2017
The state’s estimated price tag for the lights has fluctuated over time.

— david klepper, The Seattle Times, "Critics throw shade at Cuomo’s plan to light NYC bridges," 13 Aug. 2017
Shaw and his wife, Jana, 48, run the orchard and market with help from their daughters, Grace Anne, 15, and Abby, 13, along with a number of employees that fluctuates with the seasons.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Popular orchard on Mason-Dixon Line could be in path of big power line project," 3 Aug. 2017
DAS charges both its clients and models a 20 percent commission fee for bookings, the industry standard, though the client fees can fluctuate depending on the job.

— andrea januta, miamiherald, "A return to Miami’s former modeling glam? One agency says it’s time," 21 July 2017
In his time on the series, West cemented his place as one of the fictional town’s most delightfully eccentric characters: an oddball mayor who fluctuated between absurd darkness and disarming naiveté.

— vanityfair.com, "Family Guy Honors Adam West with Nine Minutes of Mash-up Perfection," 17 July 2017
The Kospi stock index fluctuated in Seoul after falling 0.6 percent Tuesday.

— nick wadhams, Bloomberg.com, "U.S. Says North Korea Rocket Was ICBM, Warns of UN Action," 4 July 2017
Currently, Abby’s Better Nut Butters sells about 3,000 jars of butters per month, though the number fluctuates over the year.

— wei zhou, charlotteobserver, "This Mooresville teen is a poetry-loving, home-schooled, butter business owner," 2 July 2017
Nationwide the industry fluctuates, at times taking companies down with it.

— kara carlson, The Seattle Times, "Sunset for solar incentives? Panel installers worry about industry’s outlook," 1 July 2017

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

See Words from the same year

fluctuate Synonyms

Synonyms

change, mutate, shift, snap, vary

Antonyms

plateau, stabilize

Related Words

metamorphose, morph, transmute; better, improve; deteriorate, worsen; turn around; seesaw, teeter, vacillate, waver

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.