oscillation

noun

os·​cil·​la·​tion ˌä-sə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce oscillation (audio)
1
: the action or state of oscillating
stays can be effectively used to prevent oscillations in new bridgesD. B. Steinman
2
: variation, fluctuation
famines due to excessive storminess and violent oscillations of rain and drought, heat and coldEllsworth Huntington
3
: 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.
oscillational adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Large-scale structure data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) began pouring in, showing features like baryon acoustic oscillations and again revealing that 5-to-1 dark matter to normal matter ratio. Big Think, 8 Apr. 2025 Mounting cosmic evidence DESI can measure what scientists call the baryon acoustic oscillation, or BAO, scale — essentially how events that occurred early in the universe left behind patterns in how matter is distributed across the cosmos. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025 This escapement delivers two direct impulses to the balance with each oscillation, ensuring efficiency and a 72-hour power reserve. Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The researchers’ goal was to inject tracer dye into CSF at one point in the brain and then track its oscillations and dynamics while the mice slept. Veronique Greenwood, Quanta Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oscillation

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oscillation was in 1658

Cite this Entry

“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oscillation. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

oscillation

noun
os·​cil·​la·​tion ˌäs-ə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce oscillation (audio)
1
: the action or state of oscillating : vibration
2
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 How to pronounce oscillation (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on oscillation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!