: 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
Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
The result is an invisible back-and-forth where Copilot keeps working for the attacker using your session.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Kara St. Cyr, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The two pairs played a fantastic match, back and forth with swings of momentum and close games throughout.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth
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Noun
The back-and-forth got a massive laugh from the audience.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
The result is an invisible back-and-forth where Copilot keeps working for the attacker using your session.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Adverb
After months of back and forth between educators and the San Francisco school district, Georgie Gibbs is ready to strike.
—Kara St. Cyr, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The two pairs played a fantastic match, back and forth with swings of momentum and close games throughout.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
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 1 Feb. 2026.
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