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
These oscillations tend to vary through the course of the winter season, and locally have a greater effect on our weather at times.
—Cutter Martin, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025
This prevents stray heat from disrupting the atoms’ oscillations.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
That’s five times the oscillation degree of our other picks.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2025
This oscillation pushes and pulls on the surrounding vessel walls, briefly opening tiny pores that allow drugs in the bloodstream to penetrate into the brain.
—Richard J. Price, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
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Cutter Martin, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025
This prevents stray heat from disrupting the atoms’ oscillations.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
That’s five times the oscillation degree of our other picks.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2025
This oscillation pushes and pulls on the surrounding vessel walls, briefly opening tiny pores that allow drugs in the bloodstream to penetrate into the brain.
—Richard J. Price, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 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 29 Nov. 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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