verb · neutral
fluctuate
/ˈflʌktʃueɪt/FLUC·tu·ate
Band 7+task1task2
to change level, strength, or value frequently
Examples
“Prices fluctuate throughout the year, making budgeting difficult for small businesses.”
“In Task 1 you may describe how values fluctuate over time in a line graph.”
“Student numbers at the university have fluctuated in recent years due to policy changes and fees.”
Band 8 sentence
“Interest rates have fluctuated markedly this decade, complicating long-term investment decisions.”
Collocations
- fluctuate wildly/considerably
- prices/temperatures/student numbers fluctuate
Word family
fluctuation n
Common mistakes
use 'change' or 'vary' always instead of 'fluctuate'→fluctuate
Say it for a higher band
5change→6vary→7+fluctuate
Synonyms
vary
Easily confused
vary
“Temperatures vary across regions.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Sublist 7
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