vacillate

/ˈvæsəleɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈæsəlˌet] /ˈvæsəleɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈæsəlˌet] /ˈva-sə-ˌlāt How to pronounce vacillate (audio)/ (ame, mw)

vacillate — verb

  • vacillatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • vacillateshe / she / it
  • vacillatedpast simple
  • vacillating-ing form

1. to keep shifting between views, plans, or decisions because you cannot settle fi

1.動詞不及物C2
釋義

to keep shifting between views, plans, or decisions because you cannot settle firmly on one.

例句

Ada vacillated for days over whether to sell her bakery or keep it running.

vacillate over whether + clause

Saira vacillated between studying nursing in Kaohsiung and staying near her parents.

vacillate between X and Y

同義詞
  • waver

    more common and less bookish, often used for hesitation before a decision

  • hesitate

    more neutral, often about pausing before a single action

  • dither

    informal and more critical, stressing nervous indecision

反義詞
  • decide

    to settle on one course of action

  • commit

    to choose firmly and stop wavering

文法句型

vacillate between X and Y

vacillate over + noun phrase

vacillate on + issue

用法筆記

Usually followed by 'between', 'over', or 'on' when naming the competing choices. More critical in tone than 'hesitate' and often suggests an annoying lack of firmness.

常見錯誤

❌The team vacillated the final plan.
✅The team vacillated over the final plan.
💡in this sense vacillate does not take the decision itself as a direct object.

2. to sway or wobble in a repeated wave-like motion, usually because something is n

2.動詞不及物C2
釋義

to sway or wobble in a repeated wave-like motion, usually because something is not steady.

例句

The loose ladder vacillated against the wall each time Tunde climbed another step.

subject is an unstable object

In the shallow water, the small boat vacillated under the weight of the fishing nets.

vacillate under + weight

同義詞
  • sway

    the everyday word for gentle side-to-side movement

  • wobble

    less formal and often suggests poorer balance

  • oscillate

    more technical and often used for regular repeated motion

反義詞
  • steady

    to remain firm instead of rocking

  • stabilise

    to become or make something more stable

文法句型

vacillate in the wind

vacillate under + weight

vacillate against + surface

用法筆記

Subject is usually something tall, narrow, or poorly balanced, such as a ladder, lamp, or boat. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about physical instability, not mental indecision.

常見錯誤

❌The pole vacillated to one side and stayed there.
✅The pole vacillated from side to side in the wind.
💡this sense suggests repeated swaying, not one single movement.