: backward and forward
also
: between two places or persons
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
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers watched the Philadelphia Phillies clinch the National League East title on their home diamond after losing Monday's matchup in a back-and-forth duel.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Martin Suarez, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
By using a system-wide translucent overlay similar to Archy and THE, the program was intended to minimize the need for switching back and forth between multiple applications to complete a task.
—Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth
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Noun
The petty back-and-forth continued throughout the interview and escalated to the point that Dash threatened to get physical with CTG.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers watched the Philadelphia Phillies clinch the National League East title on their home diamond after losing Monday's matchup in a back-and-forth duel.
—Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Adverb
My smuggling vessel thrashed violently back and forth, swamped to the point of sinking, with the bilge pumps set to overdrive.
—Martin Suarez, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
By using a system-wide translucent overlay similar to Archy and THE, the program was intended to minimize the need for switching back and forth between multiple applications to complete a task.
—Cameron Kaiser, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth
Cite this Entry
“Back-and-forth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-and-forth. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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