verb

fluctuate

FLUK-choo-ayt

Fluctuate (verb) means to rise and fall irregularly in number, amount or level. Example: “Petrol prices fluctuate from week to week.”

verb

To rise and fall irregularly in number, amount or level.

"Petrol prices fluctuate from week to week."

"Her weight fluctuated by several kilos over the winter."

To change repeatedly between different moods, opinions or states.

"His mood fluctuated between quiet optimism and outright panic."

How to Use Fluctuate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo keep going up and down.

When to use it

Neutral; very common in finance, science and health writing.

Memory tip

The noun is fluctuation, and it is usually plural: fluctuations in temperature.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

fluctuate vs vacillate fluctuate vs oscillate

Common pairings

prices fluctuate fluctuate wildly fluctuate between fluctuating demand

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Petrol prices _____ from week to week.

Etymology

From Latin fluctuat-, fluctuare 'to undulate', from fluctus 'wave', from fluere 'to flow'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

View more →

vary swing oscillate waver seesaw vacillate alternate

Antonyms

stabilise hold steady

Related Words

change rock alternative hang afford replacement swing vary

Rhymes for fluctuate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

See all rhymes for fluctuate →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between fluctuate and vary?

Vary simply means to be different from one instance to the next. Fluctuate adds the idea of repeated up-and-down movement over time, usually without a settled pattern.

Does fluctuate need a preposition?

Not always. You can say prices fluctuate on its own, or add detail with between (fluctuate between 5 and 9 per cent), by (fluctuate by 3 points) or around (fluctuate around the average).

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