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
While there could be other explanations for the mysterious X-ray patterns, such as oscillations in the black hole’s corona, those are less understood.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Jan. 2025
Mountain waves are oscillations in airflow that can happen when the wind blows across a mountain or hill.
—Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 10 Jan. 2025
This involves oscillation, meaning that with each flap, the fins deform into a wave shape (kind of like a bird’s wings) before momentarily flattening out again and starting the process over.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 31 Dec. 2024
According to a team of researchers at MIT, sound and light oscillations at 40-hertz active a neural-cleansing process that helps remove beta-amyloid, the protein that clumps together in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oscillation 
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Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Jan. 2025
Mountain waves are oscillations in airflow that can happen when the wind blows across a mountain or hill.
—Kurt Snibbe, Orange County Register, 10 Jan. 2025
This involves oscillation, meaning that with each flap, the fins deform into a wave shape (kind of like a bird’s wings) before momentarily flattening out again and starting the process over.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 31 Dec. 2024
According to a team of researchers at MIT, sound and light oscillations at 40-hertz active a neural-cleansing process that helps remove beta-amyloid, the protein that clumps together in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Dec. 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 2 Feb. 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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