undulate
/ˈʌn.dʒʊ.leɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To move in a smooth wave-like way. It can describe water, land, a road, or something that rises and falls gently.
- The sea undulated in the sunlight.
- The road undulates through the hills.
- Her voice undulated softly.
adjective
Having a wavy shape or surface. It is often used in writing about nature, design, or movement.
- We crossed undulate fields.
- The fabric had an undulate edge.
- The artist painted undulate lines.
Adinary Nuance
Undulate is more formal than words like "wave" or "wobble". Use it when you want a smooth, graceful, or literary feeling. It often fits descriptions of nature, movement, or shapes, not quick or messy motion.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- gợn sóng
- Spanish
- ondular
- Chinese
- 起伏
- Japanese
- 波打つ
- Korean
- 물결치다
Etymology
Undulate comes from Latin undulatus, from unda meaning 'wave'. It entered English in the 1600s, first in formal writing.
Common phrases
undulating hillsundulating surfaceundulating motionundulate through
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is undulate a common word in everyday English?
- It is not very common in casual speech. You will see it more in writing, descriptions, and academic texts.
- What is the difference between undulate and wave?
- Wave is more general and common. Undulate sounds smoother, more formal, and more descriptive.
- Can I use undulate for a road or land?
- Yes. It is often used for land, roads, fields, and other curved surfaces.
- Is undulate used as a verb or adjective?
- It is used as both. The verb means 'move in waves,' and the adjective means 'having a wavy shape'.