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fluctuate
[ fluhk-choo-eyt ]
verb (used without object)
- to change continually; shift back and forth; vary irregularly:
The price of gold fluctuated wildly last month.
- to move back and forth in waves.
Synonyms:
verb (used with object)
- to cause to fluctuate.
fluctuate
/ ˈڱʌʊˌɪ /
verb
- to change or cause to change position constantly; be or make unstable; waver or vary
- intr to rise and fall like a wave; undulate
Other Word Forms
- ԴDz·ڱܳt·iԲ adjective
- ܲ·ڱܳt·iԲ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of fluctuate1
Word History and Origins
Origin of fluctuate1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Their blood temperature fluctuates with the ambient temperature, a rare trait among mammals that they share with the sloth.
Nottingham Playhouse chief executive and UK Theatre joint president Stephanie Sirr said she didn't recognise the picture of a drop in productions, pointing out that "it does fluctuate from year to year".
The company pointed to high inflation and "fluctuating exchange rates" in a blog post explaining its decision.
Include bills you pay toward things like housing, utilities and subscriptions, but not groceries or other fluctuating costs.
From the people crowded around the barricade to those in the far back, almost everyone raised their arms up and down to coincide with the fluctuating beat.
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More About Fluctuate
doesfluctuate 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.
Where doesfluctuate come from?
The first records of the word fluctuate come from the 1600s. It comes from the Latin verb ڱܳٳ, meaning “to flow,” from fluctus, “a wave.”
Waves in the ocean are always in motion, rising, falling, going back and forth—they’re always fluctuating. Still, fluctuate is most commonly applied to nonphysical things. The amount of money in your bank account will fluctuate as you make deposits and withdrawals. Fluctuation may be predictable or unpredictable. The temperature in deserts often regularly fluctuates between the day, when it’s very hot, and the night, when it can get very cold. But a person’s mood might fluctuate—between happy and grumpy, for example—much more unpredictably.
Things that fluctuate can be said to be in a state of flux—continuous change. (The word flux comes from the same root as fluctuate).
Did you know ... ?
are some other forms related to fluctuate?
- fluctuation (noun)
- nonfluctuating (adjective)
- unfluctuating (adjective)
are some synonyms for fluctuate?
are some words that share a root or word element with fluctuate?
are some words that often get used in discussing fluctuate?
How isfluctuate used in real life?
Fluctuate can be used in all kinds of contexts, but it’s most often used in discussion of intangible things.
Temperatures can fluctuate up to 50º Fahrenheit in a single day in Canyonlands National Park. http://ow.ly/1sjDi
— Nat Geo Channel (@NatGeoChannel)
My mood fluctuates more than the stock market.
— Sailing Cloud (@twinitisha)
I'm sorry you're having a hard time finding the turkey variety right now. Inventory levels at the store are fluctuating, but our production teams are working hard to get them back on the shelves.
— SPAM® Brand (@SPAMbrand)
Try usingfluctuate!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym for fluctuate?
A. waver
B. veer
C. oscillate
D. persist
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