back-and-forth

1 of 2

noun

back and forth

2 of 2

adverb

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Aryna Sabalenka did in their semifinal, and Anisimova will have to be prepared to move back-and-forth across the baseline, a lot. The Athletic Tennis Staff, New York Times, 11 July 2025 But as the noise settles and the legal back-and-forth begins, the real story may lie elsewhere. Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 11 July 2025
Adverb
After some back and forth about whether attorneys meant to summon Vecchio’s father, 88-year-old Ralph Vecchio II, the judge continued the matter until July 7. Laurie Mason Schroeder, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2025 In what proved to be a wild, back and forth day at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, CO, Padraig Harrington prevailed by one shot over Stewart Cink. Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1941, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back-and-forth was in 1613

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Back-and-forth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-and-forth. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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