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

Davis was unable to hear my questions, which required me to hold them up to the screen, hampering back-and-forth response. — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

The surprising rapprochement comes more than a year after a tumultuous back-and-forth between Starkey and the band led by Daltrey, 80 and guitarist/songwriter Pete Townshend, 81. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 Aug. 2026

Adverb

Phillips and Garner sweated through the dark, passing a phone back and forth. — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

The match swung back and forth, with 8th seed Shelton winning the second and third sets after losing the first on a tie break. — Max Burman, NBC news, 9 Sep. 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