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undulate

Other forms: undulating; undulated; undulates; undulatingly

Undulate means to move in a wave-like pattern. If a sound increases and decreases in pitch or volume like waves, you can say the sound is undulating. When searching for the lost boy, the rescuers' cries undulated through the forest.

The verb undulate comes from the Latin word undula, which means "wavelet" (unda means "wave"). So any action shown with the verb undulate has that waving sense to it. If something moves in a wavy, pattern, for example, it is said to undulate. The wind might cause prairie grass to undulate, or music might cause hips to undulate.

Definitions of undulate
  1. verb
    move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
    “The curtains undulated
    synonyms: flap, roll, wave
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    types:
    luff
    flap when the wind is blowing equally on both sides
    type of:
    move
    move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
  2. verb
    stir up (water) so as to form ripples
    synonyms: cockle, riffle, ripple, ruffle
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    type of:
    flow, flux
    move or progress freely as if in a stream
  3. verb
    increase and decrease in volume or pitch, as if in waves
    “The singer's voice undulated
    see moresee less
    type of:
    change
    undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature
  4. verb
    occur in soft rounded shapes
    synonyms: roll
  5. adjective
    having a wavy margin and rippled surface
    Synonyms:
    smooth
    of the margin of a leaf shape; not broken up into teeth
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘undulate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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