bidirectional

adjective

bi·​di·​rec·​tion·​al ˌbī-də-ˈrek-sh(ə-)nəl 

-dī-

: involving, moving, or taking place in two usually opposite directions

bidirectional flow

bidirectional replication of DNA

bidirectionally adverb

Examples of bidirectional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Employees may also be struggling with the effects of change, so develop bidirectional listening strategies and communicate transparently to maintain cohesion and engagement. —Forrester, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

Measuring 38 mm in diameter, its Oyster case featured no crown guards and was fitted with a bidirectional, rotating Bakelite bezel with luminescent radium indices. —Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2025

Ideal Power has received $3.7 million in grant revenue to date for bidirectional power switch development. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2025

And there will be benefits beyond seamless charging for EV owners, such as secure vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communication and bidirectional charging that will enable EVs to send energy back to the grid to help balance out power loads. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bidirectional

• intersectional
• affectional
• correctional
• directional
• inflectional
• multidirectional
• omnidirectional
• unidirectional
• sectional

Kids Definition

bidirectional

adjective

bi·​di·​rec·​tion·​al ˌbī-də-ˈrek-sh(ə-)nəl 

-dī-

: involving, moving, or taking place in usually two opposite directions

Medical Definition

bidirectional

adjective

bi·​di·​rec·​tion·​al ˌbī-də-ˈrek-shnəl, -dī-, -shən-ᵊl 

: involving, moving, or taking place in two usually opposite directions

bidirectional flow of materials in axons

bidirectional replication of DNA

bidirectionally

-ē 

adverb