Fluctuation Meaning
/flʌkt͡ʃuːˈeɪʃən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA motion like that of waves; a moving in this and that direction; an irregular rising and falling.
nounA wavering; unsteadiness.
Sentence Examples
This time of year we experience a high fluctuation of insects in the house.
The fluctuation in prices caused a financial crisis.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
A sudden ____ in temperature caused the plants to wilt during the night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The constant ____ in temperature made it very difficult for the scientists to maintain a stable environment.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin fluctuatiōnem, accusative singular of fluctuatiō, from fluctuō, from fluctus. Morphologically fluctuate + -ion.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The rolling stock has been specially designed to meet the needs of the fluctuation of traffic in peak and off-peak periods."
— 1959 November 26, “Notes and News: St. Pancras-Bedford Diesel Trains”, in Railway Magazine, page 801:
"The scientific instruments of the day recorded rapid fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field, as powerful electrical currents flowed through the upper atmosphere."
— 2023 November 15, Prof. Jim Wild, “This train was delayed because of bad weather in space”, in RAIL, number 996, page 30:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
A sudden ____ in temperature caused the plants to wilt during the night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The constant ____ in temperature made it very difficult for the scientists to maintain a stable environment.