pendulum

IPA/ˈpendʒələm/
KK[pˈɛndʒələm]IPA/ˈpendʒələm/

pendulum — noun

  • pendulumsingular
  • pendulumsplural

1. A heavy object attached to a fixed point above it so that it is able to swing ba

1.名詞B2
釋義

A heavy object attached to a fixed point above it so that it is able to swing back and forth, used especially in old clocks to mark regular time intervals.

例句

The brass pendulum of the old clock swings back and forth every second.

collocation: pendulum swings

The teacher hung a pendulum from the ceiling to show the class how gravity works.

collocation: hang a pendulum

同義詞
  • swinging weight

    a descriptive phrase rather than a true synonym; used to explain the concept to beginners

用法筆記

The most common context for this sense is antique or mechanical clocks, but pendulums are also used in science demonstrations and some seismometers.

常見錯誤

❌The pedulum of the clock stopped moving.
✅The pendulum of the clock stopped moving.
💡'pendulum' has an 'n' after 'pe'; learners often misspell it as 'pedulum'.

2. A situation where people's opinions or beliefs move repeatedly from one extreme

2.名詞C1
釋義

A situation where people's opinions or beliefs move repeatedly from one extreme position to another, especially in politics or society.

例句

The pendulum of public opinion swung sharply after the new evidence was released.

figurative pattern: pendulum of + [domain]

After years of strict rules, the pendulum is now swinging toward more freedom in schools.

同義詞
  • swing

    more general; 'swing' can refer to any change while 'pendulum' implies a return to a previous state

  • shift

    suggests a one-directional movement rather than the back-and-forth cycle implied by 'pendulum'

  • oscillation

    more technical and formal; used in academic writing

反義詞
  • stability

    the opposite of constant change back and forth between extremes

  • consensus

    a situation where opinions are aligned rather than swinging between opposing views

用法筆記

Frequently paired with verbs like 'swing', 'shift', or 'move'. The fixed expression 'the pendulum of public opinion' is common in news and political writing. Often implies that the change is cyclical or will reverse again.

常見錯誤

❌The pendulum changed from one opinion to another.' (too literal)
✅Public opinion has swung like a pendulum from support to opposition.
💡The figurative sense is usually used with 'the pendulum' as the subject, not 'a pendulum' referring to a single person's views.