fluctuate

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈflʌkt͡ʃu.eɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #57274

Meanings

1

verb
To rise and fall or change irregularly.

Prices fluctuate from day to day depending on demand.
2

verb
To keep changing one's mind; to waver.

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

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

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

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# fluctuate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈflʌkt͡ʃu.eɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 57274

## Meanings
1. To rise and fall or change irregularly.
2. To keep changing one's mind; to waver.

## Examples
- Prices fluctuate from day to day depending on demand.
- He fluctuated between staying at home and starting a new job abroad.

## Derived Forms
- cofluctuate

## Related Forms
- fluctuant
- fluctuation

## 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).

## AI Etymology
Fluctuate is 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). Current senses include to rise and fall or change irregularly and to keep changing one's mind; to waver. The wider family includes derived forms such as cofluctuate; related words such as fluctuant and fluctuation.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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