oscillating
Moving between extremes
Oscillating describes back-and-forth movement between two points or states.
An oscillating fan sweeps side to side; an oscillating signal alternates between values.
The word extends to wavering between positions: She kept oscillating between accepting the job and turning it down.
In physics, oscillation is the regular periodic motion of waves, pendulums, or electrical currents.
Suspended swinging weight
- swingingMoving in arcs
- swayingRhythmic lateral movement
- rockingOscillating on curved base
- wobblingMoving unsteadily, wavering
undulation · bobbing · teetering · seesaw · back-and-forth · reciprocating · metronome · lurching
Rate of recurrence
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- harmonicOf musical overtones
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
quiver · shudder · pulsation · vibrato · tremolo · flutter · ripple · judder
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
flip-flopping · equivocation · fence-sitting · uncertainty · torn · conflicted · irresolute · second-guessing
Directed flow of charge
- alternatingOccurring in turns
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
hertz · voltage · amplitude · phase · inverter · rectifier · capacitor · inductor
Change from a norm
- fluxContinuous change or flow
- cycleRepeating sequence of events
- shiftMovement or work period
- swingSuspended recreational seat
wavering · instability · volatility · boom-and-bust · seasonal · periodic · recurrent · cyclical
pendulum
Suspended swinging weight
wobbling · undulation · bobbing · teetering · seesaw · back-and-forth · reciprocating · metronome · lurching · seesawing
frequency
Rate of recurrence
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- harmonicOf musical overtones
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
tremor · quiver · shudder · pulsation · vibrato · tremolo · flutter · ripple · judder · transducer
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillationInability to choose
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
waffling · flip-flopping · equivocation · fence-sitting · uncertainty · torn · conflicted · irresolute · second-guessing · dithering
current
Directed flow of charge
- alternatingOccurring in turns
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- waveformGraphed oscillation pattern
circuit · hertz · voltage · amplitude · phase · inverter · rectifier · capacitor · inductor · transformer
variation
Change from a norm
swing · wavering · instability · volatility · boom-and-bust · seasonal · periodic · recurrent · cyclical · variable
- movementwalk, move, go, run, jump
- mechanicalhydraulic, pneumatic, spring-loaded, motorized, belt-driven
- indecisionindecision, indecisiveness, conflicted, hesitation, indecisive
- motion statesmoving, stationary, in motion, at rest, still
- repetitive motionsswaying, rocking, bobbing, swinging, bouncing
- sequencessequence, arithmetic, series, geometric, progressions
oscillatingnonperiodic
Not recurring at intervals
arrhythmic · irregular · random · chaotic · erratic
oscillatingunidirectional
Moving in one direction
monotonic · linear · one-way · progressive · steady
- oscillating fanRotating electric air circulator
- oscillating sprinklerRotating lawn water distributor
- oscillating sawBlade vibrates side-to-side