back-and-forth

1 of 2

noun

ˈbak-ən(d)-ˈfȯrth 

: discussion sense 1, give-and-take

also : exchange sense 1

back and forth

2 of 2

adverb

: backward and forward

also : between two places or persons

Synonyms of back-and-forth

Noun

• exchange

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

Noun

Norway and Brazil were locked in a tense, back-and-forth game Sunday, in the round of 16, until Haaland came flying in with that header to give Norway a 1-0 lead. — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026

The president approved the American joint-venture divestment plan, signing an executive order in September after months of back-and-forth over the ban. — Sydney Topf, The Washington Examiner, 6 July 2026

Adverb

Attorneys argued back and forth on the matter for hours in a Utah courtroom on July 8 during a weeklong preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 July 2026

In practical terms, a solution is truly native when it is built specifically for its host environment and functions without requiring external infrastructure, separate data storage, or middleware to move information back and forth. — Brian Stimpfl, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1941, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1613, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for back-and-forth

• fourth
• henceforth
• thenceforth