oscillate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'oscillate' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that moves back and forth in a regular pattern. For example, "The pendulum was oscillating steadily back and forth."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And the researchers did indeed observe 6% fewer of the beasts than would have been the case if no oscillations had taken place.The way neutrinos oscillate is described by three numbers called mixing angles, which determine how likely this spot-changing is for any pair of flavours.

The Economist

If there were no frictional losses (e.g., air friction, internal friction in the spring material, and friction at the pivots), the balance would swing precisely the same distance to the other side and continue to oscillate indefinitely; because of these losses, however, the oscillations in practice die away.

Encyclopedia Britannica

THE British attitude to America tends to oscillate between snootiness and awed self-deprecation.

The Economist

Mr Blair's own attempts to do so oscillate between a stress on pragmatism ("what matters is what works," he once said) and a desire to stiffen the elastic "third way" into a proper ideology.

The Economist

The row is steadily getting worse, and will probably need summit-level healing.In this section The wages of atonement A rational choice Bad neighbours No direction home Defiantly poor The endgame Reprints Related items Papua New Guinea: Thirty years onAug 25th 2005Australia is in a bind because Indonesia's policies towards Papua oscillate from concerned support to brutal repression.

The Economist

The changing magnetic field would force the electrons to oscillate, too, but would not allow them to radiate heat.

The Economist

Unlike caesium clocks, whose atomic metronomes oscillate in the microwave range and which have become the standard for precision timekeeping necessary for such things as satellite navigation, Dr Wineland's optical clock ticks at the higher frequency of visible light.

The Economist

AFTER the fall of communism, Russian policy towards the West seemed to oscillate between two poles.

The Economist

This means that normal matter collapses more slowly than dark matter, and that when it does so it has a tendency to oscillate, generating a sound wave.

The Economist

By increasing the voltage the equivalent of singing louder the team can make the crystal oscillate more and more violently.As the vibrations grow, anything attached to the quartz will eventually be thrown off.

The Economist

Large-scale electricity transmission usually uses alternating current, in which both current and voltage oscillate.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "oscillate" when describing a regular, rhythmic movement or fluctuation, whether physical or abstract. For example, "The stock prices oscillated wildly." or "The pendulum began to oscillate in steady rhythm".

Common error

Avoid using "oscillate" to describe completely random or erratic movements. "Fluctuate" or "vary" might be more appropriate if there is no inherent rhythm or pattern.

Linguistic Context

The word "oscillate" primarily functions as an intransitive verb, indicating a regular back-and-forth movement or fluctuation. Ludwig AI's examples showcase this usage across various contexts, from physical phenomena like pendulums to abstract concepts like opinions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

32%

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The verb "oscillate" is a versatile term used to describe a regular back-and-forth movement or fluctuation. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in formal contexts such as encyclopedias, news media, and scientific publications. While interchangeable with terms like "fluctuate" or "vacillate" in certain situations, "oscillate" typically implies a more rhythmic and predictable pattern. When using "oscillate", ensure the context involves a repetitive, cyclical motion or change to maintain accuracy. Avoid using it for random or erratic variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fluctuate

Emphasizes irregular variations around a central point, rather than a regular back-and-forth motion.

vacillate

Focuses on indecision or wavering between different opinions or courses of action.

swing back and forth

Specifically describes a physical movement in alternating directions.

waver

Suggests instability or unsteadiness in movement or decision.

vibrate

Implies rapid, small-scale movements around a fixed point.

alternate

Highlights a regular, repeating sequence of two or more states or conditions.

seesaw

Captures the back-and-forth movement, particularly in a balanced system.

yo-yo

Describes a repetitive rise and fall, often in value or popularity.

fluctuate wildly

Stresses the intensity and unpredictability of the variations.

shift back and forth

Emphasizes a change in position or state, alternating between two options.

FAQs

How can I use "oscillate" in a sentence?

You can use "oscillate" to describe something that moves back and forth regularly, such as "The pendulum began to oscillate." It can also describe a fluctuation between opinions or conditions, as in "Her mood seemed to oscillate between joy and sadness."

What words can I use instead of "oscillate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "fluctuate", "vacillate", "swing back and forth", or "vibrate".

Is it correct to say something "oscillates around" a value?

Yes, it's perfectly acceptable to say something "oscillates around" a value. This indicates that the value fluctuates above and below a central point.

What's the difference between "oscillate" and "fluctuate"?

"Oscillate" typically implies a more regular, rhythmic back-and-forth motion or change, whereas "fluctuate" suggests a less predictable or erratic variation.