fluctuate

[fluhk-choo-eyt]

verb (used without object)

fluctuated, fluctuating 

1. to change continually; shift back and forth; vary irregularly.

   The price of gold fluctuated wildly last month.

2. to move back and forth in waves.

   Synonyms: oscillate

verb (used with object)

fluctuated, fluctuating 

1. to cause to fluctuate.

fluctuate

/ ˈflʌktjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. to change or cause to change position constantly; be or make unstable; waver or vary

2. (intr) to rise and fall like a wave; undulate

Other Word Forms

• nonfluctuating adjective
• unfluctuating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluctuate¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin fluctuātus “undulated,” past participle of fluctuāre “to flow,” equivalent to fluctu(s) “a flowing” (derivative of fluere “to flow”) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluctuate¹

C17: from Latin fluctuāre , from fluctus a wave, from fluere to flow

Synonym Study

See waver ¹.

Example Sentences

Johnson Hall said the new approach gives the city flexibility to better calibrate funding amounts to help developers meet the fluctuating cost of projects.

From Los Angeles Times

"I fluctuate from deep bouts of depression, sadness and anger," he said.

From BBC

Detecting long-term trends is challenging, as windstorm activity naturally fluctuates from year-to-year and across decades.

From BBC

Since then it has fluctuated between 3,400 and 3,900.

From Los Angeles Times

Denial rates for T visas, meanwhile, have fluctuated.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• oscillate 
• seesaw 
• vary 
• veer 
• waver 

When To Use

What does fluctuate mean?

Fluctuate means to continually change or shift back and forth.The verb is most commonly used in the context of abstract or intangible things that frequently change, such as temperature, the stock market, or someone’s mood.This kind of continual change is called fluctuation.Example: The volume on my TV keeps fluctuating—it gets louder during commercials and then it gets quiet again when the show comes back on.