va
ci
llate
Third Person
vacillates
Present Participle
vacillating
Past Tense
vacillated
Past Participle
vacillated
1
to sway physically from side to side
- The needle on the compass began to vacillate wildly as they approached the magnetic anomaly.
- The candle's flame vacillated in the drafty room, casting dancing shadows on the wall.
- His resolve vacillated with the intensity of the pain, wavering between grit and surrender.
- The pendulum's swing began to vacillate erratically after being disturbed.
- The drone's altitude began to vacillate wildly in the strong gusty winds.
2
to be undecided and not know what opinion, idea, or course of action to stick to
- She is currently vacillating on which college to attend next year.
- He had vacillated for weeks before finally choosing a car to buy.
- They will be vacillating between various options before settling on a plan.
- She was vacillating on whether to accept the promotion or not.
- He has been vacillating on whether to move to a new city or stay where he is.