fluctuate Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb cause to fluctuate or move in a wavelike pattern
verb move or sway in a rising and falling or wavelike pattern
vacillate; waver.
- the line on the monitor vacillated
verb be unstable
- The stock market fluctuates

L. fluctuatus, p.p. of fluctuare, to wave, fr. fluctus wave, fr. fluere, fluctum, to flow. See Fluent, and cf. Flotilla.

imperfect & past participle Fluctuated ; present participle & verbal noun Fluctuating

To move as a wave; to roll hither and thither; to wave; to float backward and forward, as on waves; as, a fluctuating field of air. Blackmore.
To move now in one direction and now in another; to be wavering or unsteady; to be irresolute or undetermined; to vacillate. Syn. -- To waver; vacillate; hesitate; scruple. -- To Fluctuate, Vacillate, Waver. -- Fluctuate is applied both to things and persons and denotes that they move as they are acted upon. The stocks fluctuate; a man fluctuates. between conflicting influences. Vacillate and waver are applied to persons to represent them as acting themselves. A man vacillates when he goes backward and forward in his opinions and purposes, without any fixity of mind or principles. A man wavers when he shrinks back or hesitates at the approach of difficulty or danger. One who is fluctuating in his feelings is usually vacillating in resolve, and wavering in execution.

To cause to move as a wave; to put in motion. R.
And fluctuate all the still perfume. Tennyson.