Meaning
To vary irregularly; to swing.
Etymology
Origin: Latin
First attested in 1630; borrowed from Latin flūctuātus, perfect passive participle of flūctuō (“(of the sea) to surge, swell; (of man) to waver, fluctuate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles, including a pangram: