: backward and forward
also
: between two places or persons
Synonyms
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
Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
Those labor strikes were unprecedented, but the revelations around Cruise’s back-and-forth with regulators were also unnerving GM shareholders.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 May 2024
The public back-and-forth over debates started on Wednesday morning, after Mr. Biden’s campaign chair, Ms. O’Malley Dillon, sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 15 May 2024
That chatbot model will also be able to pull off natural, back-and-forth conversation and can be interrupted, just as Gemini Live will.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 14 May 2024
Plus the Avs are locked in a back-and-forth battle with Dallas on the NHL front.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
The great majority of private insurers cover treatments, although sometimes back-and-forth negotiations are needed, said Gary Goldstein, who oversees the business operations of Stanford’s Blood & Marrow Transplant Program.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024
The 52-year-old NBA great has taken aim at Sharpe, 55, amid their back-and-forth by releasing a diss track on Friday, May 10.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
Fans and critics have become concerned that the back-and-forth could have real-life consequences, citing the battle between the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 May 2024
Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 20 May 2024
After months of back and forth between the Biden and Trump camps, the two sides finally agreed on terms for a presidential debate, due to take place this summer, hosted by CNN.
—Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 17 May 2024
So rather than flying back and forth to California, Renner remained in Pittsburgh throughout most of the four-month production.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024
With the markups on Thursday, the committees are set to vote to kickstart proceedings to hold Garland in contempt of Congress, a major escalation in the back and forth so far.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 16 May 2024
The episode breaks down just how quickly the beef turned super-ugly, with wild accusations flying back and forth.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2024
But the plotting is so sludgy and lacking in strategic detail that the endless back and forth across the desert starts to play like a Monster Trucks-type demolition derby, only with freakier characters, more elaborate vehicles and extra carnage.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
After a bit of playful back and forth, the longtime television host shared a story about her spouse from over the weekend.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024
All the back and forth between the two mining majors has increased pressure on Anglo to accelerate its turnaround plans sooner than planned.
—Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 14 May 2024
Noun
In a back-and-forth fourth set, Magnin had two early kills to maintain a two-point Mavericks cushion.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
Those labor strikes were unprecedented, but the revelations around Cruise’s back-and-forth with regulators were also unnerving GM shareholders.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 May 2024
The public back-and-forth over debates started on Wednesday morning, after Mr. Biden’s campaign chair, Ms. O’Malley Dillon, sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 15 May 2024
That chatbot model will also be able to pull off natural, back-and-forth conversation and can be interrupted, just as Gemini Live will.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 14 May 2024
Plus the Avs are locked in a back-and-forth battle with Dallas on the NHL front.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
The great majority of private insurers cover treatments, although sometimes back-and-forth negotiations are needed, said Gary Goldstein, who oversees the business operations of Stanford’s Blood & Marrow Transplant Program.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024
The 52-year-old NBA great has taken aim at Sharpe, 55, amid their back-and-forth by releasing a diss track on Friday, May 10.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
Fans and critics have become concerned that the back-and-forth could have real-life consequences, citing the battle between the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 May 2024
Adverb
Popular on Variety Sources familiar with the back and forth say Snyder took issue with multiple aspects of the film and weighed in on what should be changed.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 20 May 2024
After months of back and forth between the Biden and Trump camps, the two sides finally agreed on terms for a presidential debate, due to take place this summer, hosted by CNN.
—Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 17 May 2024
So rather than flying back and forth to California, Renner remained in Pittsburgh throughout most of the four-month production.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024
With the markups on Thursday, the committees are set to vote to kickstart proceedings to hold Garland in contempt of Congress, a major escalation in the back and forth so far.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 16 May 2024
The episode breaks down just how quickly the beef turned super-ugly, with wild accusations flying back and forth.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2024
But the plotting is so sludgy and lacking in strategic detail that the endless back and forth across the desert starts to play like a Monster Trucks-type demolition derby, only with freakier characters, more elaborate vehicles and extra carnage.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
After a bit of playful back and forth, the longtime television host shared a story about her spouse from over the weekend.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024
All the back and forth between the two mining majors has increased pressure on Anglo to accelerate its turnaround plans sooner than planned.
—Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 14 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back-and-forth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 24 May. 2024.
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