verb

fluctuating

/ˈflʌktʃueɪtɪŋ/ · say it: FLUK·choo·ay·ting

rising and falling irregularly

In Describing & Comparing

In more detail

1. (verb) changing frequently between different levels or amounts

2. (adjective) rising and falling irregularly; not stable or steady

Examples

1. The stock prices have been fluctuating all week.
2. We need to deal with fluctuating demand for our products.

How to use fluctuating

Fluctuate describes unpredictable or irregular changes over time, typically applied to measurable quantities like prices, temperatures, or performance. It suggests movement in multiple directions rather than a simple increase or decrease, and often implies concern about instability. It is more technical and precise than casual synonyms like 'change'.

Common phrases

fluctuating prices
fluctuating demand
fluctuating levels
fluctuating between
wildly fluctuating
constantly fluctuating

Synonyms

varying · oscillating · wavering · shifting · rising and falling

Opposites

stable · constant · steady

Word family

fluctuate (verb) · fluctuation (noun) · fluctuant (adjective, rare)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use fluctuate as a noun (saying 'the fluctuate' instead of 'the fluctuation'), or confuse it with 'fluctuation', which is the noun form.

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