Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

oscillate

/ˈɑsɪleɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.42 in modern English

Syllables
os-cil-late
IPA
/ˈɑsɪleɪt/
11
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.

Intransitive verb

verb

To vacillate between conflicting opinions, etc.

Intransitive verb

verb

To vary above and below a mean value.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

First attested in 1726; borrowed from Latin ōscillātus, perfect passive participle of Latin ōscillō (“to swing”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ōscillum (“a swing”), usually identified with ōscillum (“a little face or mask hung on a tree that sways with the wind”), diminutive of ōs (“mouth, face”). See also osculate.

Origin

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈɑsɪleɪt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

oscillates (present, singular) oscillating (participle, present) oscillated (participle, past) oscillated (past)

Derived Forms

oscillative oscillaton oscillator unoscillated

Frequently Paired Words

oscillation undulate

Synonyms

vacillate vibrate hover

Questions

How do you pronounce oscillate?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɑsɪleɪt/.
What does oscillate mean?
To swing back and forth, especially if with a regular rhythm.
Where does oscillate come from?
First known use: First attested in 1726.

How to pronounce oscillate

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “oscillate”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɑsɪleɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “oscillate”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “oscillate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.