fluctuate

[ fluhk-choo-eyt ]
/ ˈflʌk tʃuˌeɪt /

verb (used without object), fluc·tu·at·ed, fluc·tu·at·ing.

to change continually; shift back and forth; vary irregularly: The price of gold fluctuated wildly last month.
to move back and forth in waves.

verb (used with object), fluc·tu·at·ed, fluc·tu·at·ing.

to cause to fluctuate.

Origin of fluctuate

1625–35; < Latin fluctuātus undulated, past participle of fluctuāre to flow, equivalent to fluctu(s) a flowing (derivative of fluere to flow) + -ātus -ate1

SYNONYMS FOR fluctuate

1 See waver1.
2 oscillate.

OTHER WORDS FROM fluctuate

non·fluc·tu·at·ing, adjective un·fluc·tu·at·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for fluctuating

British Dictionary definitions for fluctuating

fluctuate
/ (ˈflʌktjʊˌeɪt) /

verb

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

Word Origin for fluctuate

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