: backward and forward
also
: between two places or persons
Examples of back-and-forth in a Sentence
Noun
after the usual back-and-forth of official gifts, the two leaders entered into a serious discussion
the others listened with relish to the back-and-forth between the two noted professors
Adverb
The chair rocked back and forth.
The children were shuttled back and forth between school and home.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 11 July 2025
But as the noise settles and the legal back-and-forth begins, the real story may lie elsewhere.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 11 July 2025
Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
The Rockets toggled back and forth between zone and man-to-man defense all evening, but being proficient in the former is becoming increasingly important under Udoka.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth
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Noun
Aryna Sabalenka did in their semifinal, and Anisimova will have to be prepared to move back-and-forth across the baseline, a lot.
—The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 11 July 2025
But as the noise settles and the legal back-and-forth begins, the real story may lie elsewhere.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 11 July 2025
Adverb
The two then bantered with each other back and forth on the site.
—Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 14 July 2025
The Rockets toggled back and forth between zone and man-to-man defense all evening, but being proficient in the former is becoming increasingly important under Udoka.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth
Cite this Entry
“Back-and-forth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-and-forth. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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