undulate

adjective

un·du·late | \ ˈən-jə-lət

, ˈən-dyə-, ˈən-də-, -ˌlāt\

variants: or undulated \ ˈən-jə-ˌlā-təd

, ˈən-dyə- , ˈən-də- \

Definition of undulate

(Entry 1 of 2)

: having a wavy surface, edge, or markings the undulate margin of a leaf

undulate

verb

un·du·late | \ ˈən-jə-ˌlāt

, ˈən-dyə-, ˈən-də-\

undulated; undulating

Definition of undulate (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to form or move in waves : fluctuate

2 : to rise and fall in volume, pitch, or cadence

3 : to present a wavy appearance

transitive verb

: to cause to move in a wavy, sinuous, or flowing manner

Choose the Right Synonym Make Waves With the History of Undulate Example Sentences Learn More about undulate

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Choose the Right Synonym for undulate

Verb

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. the door suddenly swung open sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement. trees swaying in the breeze oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction. an oscillating fan vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact. the vibrating strings of a piano fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value. fluctuating interest rates waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering. the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion. an undulating sea of grass

Make Waves With the History of Undulate

Verb

Undulate and "inundate" are word cousins, sharing "unda," the Latin word for "wave," as their common ancestor. No surprise there. But would you have guessed that "abound," "surround," and "redound" are also "unda" offspring? The connection between "unda" and these words is easier to see when you learn that at some point in their early histories each of them essentially had the meaning of "to overflow"-a meaning that "inundate" still carries, along with its "overwhelm" sense.

Examples of undulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The males, taking to the air to woo females, flash a sparkling yellow that undulates like waves through the dark forest. — Douglas Main, National Geographic, "How these mysterious fireflies synchronize their dazzling light shows," 23 May 2019 The crevice slabs undulate in waves that give movement to an otherwise unyielding medium. — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, "This unusual garden style could be a sustainable solution for urban landscapes," 5 June 2019 Echelman’s piece undulates in the wind with the same rhythmic synchronicity as a flock of birds. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, "The Hotel as Patron of the Arts? In Hong Kong, the Peninsula Takes the Trend to the Next Level," 9 Apr. 2019 Low walls edging apartment terraces will undulate across the facade of 1 River Park, a 15-story condominium tower that will rise in Cobble Hill. — Jane Margolies, New York Times, "Terraces to Look At and Linger On," 26 Apr. 2018 Inside my apartment, the hardwood floors undulated like waves from the water buildup. — Lonnie Firestone, Glamour, "It Took a Fire in My Building to Understand Marie Kondo's Method," 15 Jan. 2019 The hills, gold and green with grains and legumes, undulate without pattern or rhythm; every bend in the road reconfigures the landscape in unpredictable ways, leaving you feeling just a bit off kilter, in a perpetual low-level swoon. — Matthew Kronsberg, WSJ, "A Getaway to the ‘Tuscany of America’," 27 July 2018 Also, the community somewhat undulates around, so most of the houses don’t face other houses. — Sean Elder, Town & Country, "The War of The Grosses: Inside the Bitter Divorce Battle of the Laguna Beach "Bond King"," 22 Oct. 2018 As the voice of a young boy sings a treble solo, Calvin Richardson begins a slow, swirling solo, often dropping to the floor, then propelling himself back up with curving, undulating momentum. — Roslyn Sulcas, New York Times, "Review: An American in London (Bernstein, That Is)," 16 Mar. 2018

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