oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌä-sə-ˈlā-shən 
1
: the action or state of oscillating
stays can be effectively used to prevent oscillations in new bridges—
D. B. Steinman
D. B. Steinman2
: variation, fluctuation
famines due to excessive storminess and violent oscillations of rain and drought, heat and cold—Ellsworth Huntington
Ellsworth Huntington3
: a flow of electricity changing periodically from a maximum to a minimum
especially
: a flow periodically changing direction
4
: a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
Each oscillation of the pendulum represents one second.
Examples of oscillation in a Sentence
the continued oscillation of the fan
There has been oscillation between optimism and pessimism among voters.
Recent Examples on the Web
The wild oscillations are in large part the result of furious levels of trading activity for Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) in the lead-up to next week’s presidential election.
—Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024
In addition to the long-term oscillations, the ice recorded dozens of shorter, wilder swings.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
The internal oscillations have mostly been sending a friendly macro message – consumer cyclicals, banks and industrials performing well.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2024
But Trump’s conduct has been so aberrant for so long that separating genuine deterioration from routine volatility is no easy task—on what basis does one judge oscillations in something without precedent in public life?
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oscillation 
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Bypaolo Confino, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024
In addition to the long-term oscillations, the ice recorded dozens of shorter, wilder swings.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
The internal oscillations have mostly been sending a friendly macro message – consumer cyclicals, banks and industrials performing well.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2024
But Trump’s conduct has been so aberrant for so long that separating genuine deterioration from routine volatility is no easy task—on what basis does one judge oscillations in something without precedent in public life?
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oscillation
Dictionary Entries Near oscillation
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillation. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən
1
: the action or state of oscillating : vibration
3
: a single swing (as of an oscillating body) from one extreme limit to the other
Medical Definition
oscillation
noun
os·cil·la·tion
ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən
1
: the action or state of oscillating
2
: a flow of electricity changing periodically from a maximum to a minimum
especially
: a flow periodically changing direction
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