oscillate Definition
- 1move or swing back and forth at a regular speed
- 2vary between two extremes, especially regularly and repeatedly
Using oscillate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "oscillate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The fan oscillates to cool the room.
Example
Her mood oscillated between happiness and sadness.
Example
The stock prices oscillated throughout the day.
Example
The pendulum oscillated back and forth.
oscillate Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with oscillate
a fan that rotates back and forth to distribute air evenly in a room
Example
I turned on the oscillating fan to cool down the entire room.
an electronic circuit that produces an alternating current
Example
The radio receiver uses an oscillating circuit to tune into different stations.
a repetitive back-and-forth movement
Example
The boat rocked with an oscillating motion as it moved through the waves.
Origins of oscillate
from Latin 'oscillare', meaning 'to swing'
Summary: oscillate in Brief
The verb 'oscillate' [ˈɑːsɪleɪt] means to move or swing back and forth at a regular speed, or to vary between two extremes, especially regularly and repeatedly. It can refer to physical movements like a fan or pendulum, or abstract concepts like mood or stock prices. 'Oscillate' is often used in technical contexts like electronics and physics.
