fluctuate

C2 Topic:Mind & Cognition
US /ˈflʌkt͡ʃu.eɪt/
verb Freq #57274

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    To rise and fall or change irregularly.

    Prices fluctuate from day to day depending on demand.

  2. 2
    verb

    To keep changing one's mind; to waver.

    He fluctuated between staying at home and starting a new job abroad.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to rise and fall or change... waver
Word family
Forms fluctuatedfluctuatesfluctuating
Derived forms cofluctuate
Related forms fluctuantfluctuation

Etymology

First attested in the 1630'; borrowed from Latin flūctuātus, perfect passive participle of flūctuō (“(of the sea) to surge, swell; (of man) to waver, fluctuate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

Topics

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