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# oscillate

verb (oscillate, oscillates, oscillated, oscillating)

«oscillate» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To swing or move back and forth regularly, like a pendulum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#m1)
2. To keep changing between two feelings, ideas or states, as in "oscillate between hope and fear". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#m2)
3. (science) Of electric current or waves, to change direction or strength in a regular rhythm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#m3)

### In the lessons

Used in science (pendulums, springs, vibrations and sound waves oscillate; a fan that oscillates turns from side to side) and in stories or formal writing to show someone changing their mind back and forth.

### Examples

- A pendulum oscillates from side to side. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#x1)
- The fan oscillates so it cools the whole room. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#x2)
- Guitar strings oscillate when you pluck them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#x3)
- His mood oscillated between happy and grumpy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#x4)
- The price oscillated between £5 and £6 all week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#x5)
- The spring oscillated up and down after we let go. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/#x6)

### Note

Spelling: double s, double l: os-cil-late. Pronounced "OS-il-ate". Noun "oscillation". Similar: "swing", "vibrate", "waver".

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «oscillate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oscillate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«oscillate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/oscillate.html) on Mova free.