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

At the end of DeSmet's testimony, the defense team and prosecutors got into a back-and-forth, questioning him about the sheriff's office's responsibility to keep hallways safe and whether allowing Flores-Ruiz to exit through a non-public hallway would be safer. —John Diedrich, jsonline.com, 16 Dec. 2025

This back-and-forth struggle to dominate American institutions testifies to their surpassing value and to their insusceptibility to permanent subordination. —Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

Adverb

TikTok user @geemaaax began to worry when her beagle, Poppy, started swaying back and forth. —Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

Working with her longtime guitarist Luke Fitton, Minogue began ironing out the melody of the verses in the late 2010s via voice notes the two would send back and forth. —Stephen Daw, Billboard, 11 Dec. 2025

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