oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌä-sə-ˈlā-shən 
1
: the action or state of oscillating
… stays can be effectively used to prevent oscillations in new bridges …—
D. B. Steinman
D. B. Steinman2
: variation, fluctuation
… famines due to excessive storminess and violent oscillations of rain and drought, heat and cold.—Ellsworth Huntington
Ellsworth Huntington3
: a flow of electricity changing periodically from a maximum to a minimum
especially
: a flow periodically changing direction
4
: a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
Each oscillation of the pendulum represents one second.
Examples of oscillation in a Sentence
the continued oscillation of the fan
There has been oscillation between optimism and pessimism among voters.
Recent Examples on the Web
The oscillation rate is known as the Rabi frequency.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Nov. 2025
The new measurements from these neutrino-proton collisions are now considered the most precise for two oscillation parameters, which act as proxies for differences in their mass, according to Ochoa-Ricoux.
—Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 26 Nov. 2025
Certain kinds of atomic nuclei—including those of the hydrogen atoms in a water molecule—can be made to oscillate in a magnetic field, and these oscillations can be detected with coils of wire.
—David Schneider, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2025
Best picks for you The science of studying these stellar oscillations is called asteroseismology, and the frequency of the oscillations can reveal the masses, sizes and ages of the stars for which they are observed.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
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Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Nov. 2025
The new measurements from these neutrino-proton collisions are now considered the most precise for two oscillation parameters, which act as proxies for differences in their mass, according to Ochoa-Ricoux.
—Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 26 Nov. 2025
Certain kinds of atomic nuclei—including those of the hydrogen atoms in a water molecule—can be made to oscillate in a magnetic field, and these oscillations can be detected with coils of wire.
—David Schneider, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2025
Best picks for you The science of studying these stellar oscillations is called asteroseismology, and the frequency of the oscillations can reveal the masses, sizes and ages of the stars for which they are observed.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillation. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən
1
: the action or state of oscillating : vibration
3
: a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
Medical Definition
oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən
1
: the action or state of oscillating
2
: a flow of electricity changing periodically from a maximum to a minimum
especially
: a flow periodically changing direction
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