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

This assertion kicked off more than 20 minutes of contentious back-and-forth, in which Kennedy made a number of false and misleading statements about a range of topics including measles, autism and Lyme disease. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Rollins brought up the Bloodline, prompting back-and-forth strikes from the two former brothers. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Adverb

On one of their last nights in Paris, all the beginners' French students piled onto a boat that would sail them back and forth across the Seine. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Gomez-Hurtado pulled the child up by the wrist, put both hands around his neck and face, and shook the 2-year-old back and forth before putting him in a time-out, arrest records said. — Larry Seward, CBS News, 4 Aug. 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