"vacillate" meaning in English

See vacillate in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /ˈvæ.sə.leɪt/, /ˈvæ.sɪ.leɪt/ Audio: en-us-vacillate.ogg Forms: vacillates [present, singular, third-person], vacillating [participle, present], vacillated [participle, past], vacillated [past]
Etymology: From Latin vacillātum, supine form of vacillō (“sway, waver”). Etymology templates: {{der|en|la|vacillātum}} Latin vacillātum Head templates: {{en-verb}} vacillate (third-person singular simple present vacillates, present participle vacillating, simple past and past participle vacillated)
  1. (intransitive) To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate. Tags: intransitive Synonyms (to sway from one side to the other): stagger Translations (to sway unsteadily from one side to the other): люлея се (ljuleja se) (Bulgarian), колебая се (kolebaja se) (Bulgarian), vacil·lar (Catalan), 搖擺不定 /摇摆不定 (yáobǎibúdìng) (Chinese Mandarin), kolísat (Czech), wankelen (Dutch), horjua (Finnish), huojua (Finnish), heilua (Finnish), vaciller (French), რწევა (rc̣eva) (Georgian), რხევა (rxeva) (Georgian), რყევა (rq̇eva) (Georgian), schwanken (German), ταλαντεύομαι (talantévomai) (Greek), vacillare (Italian), ondeggiare (Italian), oscillare (Italian), sbandare (Italian), esitare (Italian), 흔들리다 (heundeullida) (Korean), vacillō (Latin), vacilar (Portuguese), колеба́ться (kolebátʹsja) [imperfective] (Russian), кача́ться (kačátʹsja) [imperfective] (Russian), vacilar (Spanish), tambalear (Spanish), tambalearse (Spanish), trastrabillar (Spanish), trastabillar (Spanish), sendelemek (Turkish), yalpalamak (Turkish)
    Sense id: en-vacillate-en-verb-qV6vMJqR Disambiguation of 'to sway from one side to the other': 82 18 Disambiguation of 'to sway unsteadily from one side to the other': 90 10
  2. (intransitive) To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another. Tags: intransitive Synonyms (to swing indecisively): blow hot and cold, waffle Translations (to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action): vacil·lar (Catalan), epäröidä (Finnish), horjua (Finnish), soutaa ja huovata (Finnish), ταλαντεύομαι (talantévomai) (Greek), vacillō (Latin), vacilar (Portuguese), vacilar (Spanish), titubear (Spanish) Translations (to swing from one course of action or opinion to another): двоумя се (dvoumja se) (Bulgarian), не се решавам (ne se rešavam) (Bulgarian), vacil·lar (Catalan), 犹豫不定 (Chinese Mandarin), váhat [imperfective] (Czech), weifelen (Dutch), horjua (Finnish), epäröidä (Finnish), soutaa ja huovata (Finnish), hésiter (French), ყოყმანი (q̇oq̇mani) (Georgian), მერყეობა (merq̇eoba) (Georgian), schwanken (German), ταλαντεύομαι (talantévomai) (Greek), nakimavoq (Greenlandic), bera kápuna á báðum öxlum (Icelandic), dubitare (Italian), 흔들리다 (heundeullida) (Korean), duabus sellis sedeo (Latin), aestuō (Latin), vacillō (Latin), tātāu (Maori), vacilar (Portuguese), колеба́ться (kolebátʹsja) [imperfective] (Russian), vacilar (Spanish), titubear (Spanish), bocalamak (Turkish)
    Sense id: en-vacillate-en-verb-bkUAiVIp Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with Dutch translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Georgian translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Greenlandic translations, Terms with Icelandic translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Korean translations, Terms with Latin translations, Terms with Mandarin translations, Terms with Maori translations, Terms with Northern Kurdish translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Turkish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 18 82 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 11 89 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 26 74 Disambiguation of Terms with Catalan translations: 23 77 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 31 69 Disambiguation of Terms with Dutch translations: 20 80 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 20 80 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 18 82 Disambiguation of Terms with Georgian translations: 25 75 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 14 86 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 30 70 Disambiguation of Terms with Greenlandic translations: 15 85 Disambiguation of Terms with Icelandic translations: 21 79 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 15 85 Disambiguation of Terms with Korean translations: 23 77 Disambiguation of Terms with Latin translations: 14 86 Disambiguation of Terms with Mandarin translations: 25 75 Disambiguation of Terms with Maori translations: 23 77 Disambiguation of Terms with Northern Kurdish translations: 9 91 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 21 79 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 14 86 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 14 86 Disambiguation of Terms with Turkish translations: 22 78 Disambiguation of 'to swing indecisively': 3 97 Disambiguation of 'to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action': 6 94 Disambiguation of 'to swing from one course of action or opinion to another': 10 90
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Related terms: vacillant, vacillating, vacillation, vacillator, vacillatory

Inflected forms

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "vacillātum"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin vacillātum",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Latin vacillātum, supine form of vacillō (“sway, waver”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "vacillates",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "vacillating",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "vacillated",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "vacillated",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "vacillate (third-person singular simple present vacillates, present participle vacillating, simple past and past participle vacillated)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "vacillant"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "vacillating"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "vacillation"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "vacillator"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0",
      "word": "vacillatory"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1910, Jack London, The Heathen:",
          "text": "Its [the barometer's] normal register in the Paumotus [the Tuamotus] was 29.90, and it was quite customary to see it vacillate between 29.85 and 30.00, or even 30.05; […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate."
      ],
      "id": "en-vacillate-en-verb-qV6vMJqR",
      "links": [
        [
          "sway",
          "sway"
        ],
        [
          "unsteadily",
          "unsteadily"
        ],
        [
          "oscillate",
          "oscillate"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "82 18",
          "sense": "to sway from one side to the other",
          "word": "stagger"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "ljuleja se",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "люлея се"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "kolebaja se",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "колебая се"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "vacil·lar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "yáobǎibúdìng",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "搖擺不定 /摇摆不定"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "kolísat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "wankelen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "horjua"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "huojua"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "heilua"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "vaciller"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "rc̣eva",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "რწევა"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "rxeva",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "რხევა"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "rq̇eva",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "რყევა"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "schwanken"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "talantévomai",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "ταλαντεύομαι"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "vacillare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "ondeggiare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "oscillare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "sbandare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "esitare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "ko",
          "lang": "Korean",
          "roman": "heundeullida",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "흔들리다"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "vacillō"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "vacilar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "kolebátʹsja",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "колеба́ться"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "kačátʹsja",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "кача́ться"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "vacilar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "tambalear"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "tambalearse"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "trastrabillar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "trastabillar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "sendelemek"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "90 10",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
          "word": "yalpalamak"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "18 82",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 89",
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        {
          "_dis": "26 74",
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          "_dis": "23 77",
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          "_dis": "31 69",
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          "_dis": "14 86",
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          "_dis": "15 85",
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        {
          "_dis": "14 86",
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        {
          "_dis": "25 75",
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          "_dis": "22 78",
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        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXIX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 68:",
          "text": "Courageous, patriotic, yet vacillating, many of the noblest principles and the purest intentions, men of large possessions and ancient names, under the afflicting circumstances of the times, failed to render service to their unhappy country, but involved themselves in irremediable ruin.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1944 October, I. A. Horowitz, “Readers' Games”, in Chess Review:",
          "text": "Though it is vital to be alert for circumstances which require a change of plan, it is fatal to vacillate.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage:",
          "text": "On the streets of Berlin, Ruth and her compatriots vacillated \"between hope and despair.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another."
      ],
      "id": "en-vacillate-en-verb-bkUAiVIp",
      "links": [
        [
          "indecisive",
          "indecisive"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "sense": "to swing indecisively",
          "word": "blow hot and cold"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 97",
          "sense": "to swing indecisively",
          "word": "waffle"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "dvoumja se",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "двоумя се"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "ne se rešavam",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "не се решавам"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "vacil·lar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "犹豫不定"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "váhat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "weifelen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "horjua"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "epäröidä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "soutaa ja huovata"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "hésiter"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "q̇oq̇mani",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "ყოყმანი"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "ka",
          "lang": "Georgian",
          "roman": "merq̇eoba",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "მერყეობა"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "schwanken"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "talantévomai",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "ταλαντεύομαι"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "kl",
          "lang": "Greenlandic",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "nakimavoq"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "is",
          "lang": "Icelandic",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "bera kápuna á báðum öxlum"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "dubitare"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "ko",
          "lang": "Korean",
          "roman": "heundeullida",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "흔들리다"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "duabus sellis sedeo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "aestuō"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "vacillō"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "mi",
          "lang": "Maori",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "tātāu"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "vacilar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "kolebátʹsja",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "колеба́ться"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "vacilar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "titubear"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "10 90",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
          "word": "bocalamak"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "vacil·lar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "epäröidä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "horjua"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "soutaa ja huovata"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "talantévomai",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "ταλαντεύομαι"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "la",
          "lang": "Latin",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "vacillō"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "vacilar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "vacilar"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "6 94",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
          "word": "titubear"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈvæ.sə.leɪt/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈvæ.sɪ.leɪt/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-vacillate.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/6f/En-us-vacillate.ogg/En-us-vacillate.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/En-us-vacillate.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "word": "vacillate"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 3 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Requests for review of Northern Kurdish translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Georgian translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Greenlandic translations",
    "Terms with Icelandic translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Korean translations",
    "Terms with Latin translations",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations",
    "Terms with Maori translations",
    "Terms with Northern Kurdish translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Turkish translations"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "vacillātum"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin vacillātum",
      "name": "der"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Latin vacillātum, supine form of vacillō (“sway, waver”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "vacillates",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "vacillating",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "vacillated",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "vacillated",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "vacillate (third-person singular simple present vacillates, present participle vacillating, simple past and past participle vacillated)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "vacillant"
    },
    {
      "word": "vacillating"
    },
    {
      "word": "vacillation"
    },
    {
      "word": "vacillator"
    },
    {
      "word": "vacillatory"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1910, Jack London, The Heathen:",
          "text": "Its [the barometer's] normal register in the Paumotus [the Tuamotus] was 29.90, and it was quite customary to see it vacillate between 29.85 and 30.00, or even 30.05; […]",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "sway",
          "sway"
        ],
        [
          "unsteadily",
          "unsteadily"
        ],
        [
          "oscillate",
          "oscillate"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To sway unsteadily from one side to the other; oscillate."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1842, [anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizabeth Landon], chapter XXIX, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 68:",
          "text": "Courageous, patriotic, yet vacillating, many of the noblest principles and the purest intentions, men of large possessions and ancient names, under the afflicting circumstances of the times, failed to render service to their unhappy country, but involved themselves in irremediable ruin.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1944 October, I. A. Horowitz, “Readers' Games”, in Chess Review:",
          "text": "Though it is vital to be alert for circumstances which require a change of plan, it is fatal to vacillate.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Chris Wallace, Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage:",
          "text": "On the streets of Berlin, Ruth and her compatriots vacillated \"between hope and despair.\"",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "indecisive",
          "indecisive"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive) To swing indecisively from one course of action or opinion to another."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "intransitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈvæ.sə.leɪt/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈvæ.sɪ.leɪt/"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-vacillate.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/6f/En-us-vacillate.ogg/En-us-vacillate.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/En-us-vacillate.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "to sway from one side to the other",
      "word": "stagger"
    },
    {
      "sense": "to swing indecisively",
      "word": "blow hot and cold"
    },
    {
      "sense": "to swing indecisively",
      "word": "waffle"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "ljuleja se",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "люлея се"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "kolebaja se",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "колебая се"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "vacil·lar"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "yáobǎibúdìng",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "搖擺不定 /摇摆不定"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "kolísat"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "wankelen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "horjua"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "huojua"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "heilua"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "vaciller"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "rc̣eva",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "რწევა"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "rxeva",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "რხევა"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "rq̇eva",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "რყევა"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "schwanken"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "talantévomai",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "ταλαντεύομαι"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "vacillare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "ondeggiare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "oscillare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "sbandare"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "esitare"
    },
    {
      "code": "ko",
      "lang": "Korean",
      "roman": "heundeullida",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "흔들리다"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "vacillō"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "vacilar"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "kolebátʹsja",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "колеба́ться"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "kačátʹsja",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "кача́ться"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "vacilar"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "tambalear"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "tambalearse"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "trastrabillar"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "trastabillar"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "sendelemek"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "to sway unsteadily from one side to the other",
      "word": "yalpalamak"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "dvoumja se",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "двоумя се"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "ne se rešavam",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "не се решавам"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "vacil·lar"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "犹豫不定"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "váhat"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "weifelen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "horjua"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "epäröidä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "soutaa ja huovata"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "hésiter"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "q̇oq̇mani",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "ყოყმანი"
    },
    {
      "code": "ka",
      "lang": "Georgian",
      "roman": "merq̇eoba",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "მერყეობა"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "schwanken"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "talantévomai",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "ταλαντεύομαι"
    },
    {
      "code": "kl",
      "lang": "Greenlandic",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "nakimavoq"
    },
    {
      "code": "is",
      "lang": "Icelandic",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "bera kápuna á báðum öxlum"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "dubitare"
    },
    {
      "code": "ko",
      "lang": "Korean",
      "roman": "heundeullida",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "흔들리다"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "duabus sellis sedeo"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "aestuō"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "vacillō"
    },
    {
      "code": "mi",
      "lang": "Maori",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "tātāu"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "vacilar"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "kolebátʹsja",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "колеба́ться"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "vacilar"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "titubear"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "to swing from one course of action or opinion to another",
      "word": "bocalamak"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "vacil·lar"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "epäröidä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "horjua"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "soutaa ja huovata"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "talantévomai",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "ταλαντεύομαι"
    },
    {
      "code": "la",
      "lang": "Latin",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "vacillō"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "vacilar"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "vacilar"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "to be changeable, or inconsistent in speech or action",
      "word": "titubear"
    }
  ],
  "word": "vacillate"
}

Download raw JSONL data for vacillate meaning in English (13.0kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-02-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-01-20 using wiktextract (05fdf6b and 9dbd323). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.