undulate

1 of 2

adjective

un·​du·​late ˈən-jə-lət  ˈən-dyə- 

ˈən-də-,

-ˌlāt 

variants or undulated

ˈən-jə-ˌlā-təd 

ˈən-dyə-,

ˈən-də-

: having a wavy surface, edge, or markings

the undulate margin of a leaf

undulate

2 of 2

verb

un·​du·​late ˈən-jə-ˌlāt 

ˈən-dyə-,

ˈən-də-

undulated; undulating

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

Did you know?

Make Waves With the History of Undulate

Undulate and inundate (“to cover something with a flood of water”) are word cousins that flow from unda, the Latin word for “wave.” No surprise there. But would you have guessed that abound, surround, and redound are also unda offspring? While their modern definitions have nothing to do with waves or water, at some point in their early histories, they all meant “to overflow,” and caught a wave from there.

Choose the Right Synonym for undulate

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

Examples of undulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the Giotto bed skirt, folds don’t just ripple so much as elegantly undulate, glistening with the kind of delicate sheen that only sateen and silk can accomplish. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025

Verb

This was clear evidence of a standing wave, undulating back and forth. —Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 4 June 2025

The architects gave body to that belief with an undulating wooden ceiling that starts above the stage, rolls out over the lobby, and terminates in a bright up-pointed canopy like the peak of a yellow baseball cap. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin undulatus, from *undula, diminutive of unda wave — more at water

Verb

Late Latin undula small wave, from Latin *undula

First Known Use

Adjective

1658, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1664, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for undulate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

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Kids Definition

undulate

verb

un·​du·​late

ˈən-jə-ˌlāt,

ˈən-d(y)ə-

undulated; undulating

1

: to form or move in waves : fluctuate

2

: to rise and fall in volume, pitch, or rhythm

3

: to present a wavy appearance

Etymology

Verb

from Latin undula "small wave," derived from earlier unda "wave"

Medical Definition

undulate

adjective

un·​du·​late ˈən-jə-lət  ˈən-d(y)ə-  -ˌlāt 

: having a wavy surface, edge, or markings

an undulate cell