oscillate

/ˈä-sə-ˌlāt/

Latin oscillatus, past participle of oscillare to swing, from oscillum swing

verb

  1. to swing backward and forward like a pendulum

  2. to move or travel back and forth between two points

  3. to vary between opposing beliefs, feelings, or theories

The fan was oscillating.

he oscillates regularly between his comfortable home … and his downtown office-laboratory

swing sway oscillate vibrate fluctuate waver undulate mean to move from one direction to its opposite. swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side. sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.