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
Like Thomson’s tide-prediction machine, these two devices, developed at the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, also looked at tidal harmonic oscillations.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2024
The length of the oscillation from the eastern limit to the western limit is four and a half inches.
—Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
Pelonis Pedestal Fan, $74 (Save 8%) $80 $74 With an 85-degree oscillation, the standing fan spreads cold air to a wide area.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Those ripples, or bubbles, are known as baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oscillation 
IEEE Spectrum, 2 June 2024
The length of the oscillation from the eastern limit to the western limit is four and a half inches.
—Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 14 May 2024
Pelonis Pedestal Fan, $74 (Save 8%) $80 $74 With an 85-degree oscillation, the standing fan spreads cold air to a wide area.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Those ripples, or bubbles, are known as baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oscillation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oscillation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near oscillation
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillation. Accessed 28 Jun. 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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