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
Those ripples, or bubbles, are known as baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO).
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025
The rapid oscillations allow for more precise timekeeping, as the watch can divide time into smaller increments.
—Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Another team invented a molecule that can boost electrical oscillations in the brain, improving memory and cognition in mice that were modified to have Alzheimer's.
—New Atlas, 15 Feb. 2025
And its wavelength is the distance between those oscillations in space.
—Michael J. Murdoch, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
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Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025
The rapid oscillations allow for more precise timekeeping, as the watch can divide time into smaller increments.
—Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Another team invented a molecule that can boost electrical oscillations in the brain, improving memory and cognition in mice that were modified to have Alzheimer's.
—New Atlas, 15 Feb. 2025
And its wavelength is the distance between those oscillations in space.
—Michael J. Murdoch, The Conversation, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillation. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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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