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

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

There is a lot of back-and-forth nowadays regarding the existential risk of AI. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025

Despite the back-and-forth, Cooper is adamant that Gupta’s defense strategy has remained unchanged. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025

Adverb

So far, the heliostat has been slowly redirected to sweep back and forth across the night sky, tracking stars as a first step in the experiment. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Sound of Falling skips back and forth through time, alighting on moments of both horror and grace across a century in the lives of four women—adolescent and adult—inhabiting the same unsettled spaces. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 5 Aug. 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