English Dictionary

Definition of “fluctuate”

fluctuate (ˈflʌktjʊˌeɪt Pronunciation for fluctuate

Definitions

verb

  1. to change or cause to change position constantly; be or make unstable; waver or vary
  2. intr to rise and fall like a wave; undulate

Word Origin

C17: from Latin fluctuāre, from fluctus a wave, from fluere to flow

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= change, swing, vary, alter, hesitate, alternate, waver, veer, rise and fall, go up and down, ebb and flow, seesaw

Translations for 'fluctuate'

  • British English: fluctuate If something fluctuates, it changes a lot in an irregular way. VERBBody temperature can fluctuate if you are ill.
  • Brazilian Portuguese: variar
  • Chinese: 波动波动動
  • European Spanish: fluctuar
  • French: fluctuer
  • German: schwanken
  • Italian: oscillare
  • Japanese: 変動する
  • Korean: 변동을 거듭하다
  • Portuguese: variar
  • Spanish: fluctuar

Example Sentences Including 'fluctuate'

As the cash requirements of financing inventory and receivables cycles fluctuate , a lender can easily become a borrower.
Business Today (1996)
Most primary schools are small, so their performance can fluctuate considerably where there is an open intake.
Times, Sunday Times (2001)
Mr. Giardino said that interior temperatures generally fluctuate by several degrees during those cycles.
Globe and Mail (2004)
Second, short-term interest rates fluctuate more than long-term rates.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance
The premier is even considering regulation of the industry as one way to halt prices that can fluctuate from hour to hour.
canada.com (2004)
They have quality players, but I can't understand why their form should fluctuate so much.
Sun, News of the World (2000)

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