verb · academic
fluctuate
UK/ˈflʌktjueɪt/US/ˈflʌktʃueɪt/FLUC·tu·ate
Band 6-7task1task2speaking
to change level, strength, or value frequently and irregularly; to vary
Examples
“Prices tend to fluctuate during peak tourist season.”
“In Task 1 describe whether the line fluctuates or follows a steady trend.”
“Student numbers have fluctuated over the past decade, reflecting policy changes.”
Band 8 sentence
“Exchange rates fluctuated considerably last month due to geopolitical uncertainty.”
Collocations
- fluctuate wildly
- fluctuate around
- fluctuate between
Word family
fluctuation nounfluctuating adjective
Common mistakes
fluctuate from→fluctuate between/around
be fluctuated→fluctuate
Say it for a higher band
5change→6vary→7+fluctuate
Synonyms
vary
Easily confused
vary
“Temperatures vary during the day.”
Related words
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In Sublist 9
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