to-and-fro

noun \ ˌtü-ən-ˈfrō \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of to-and-fro

: activity involving alternating movement in opposite directions

the busy to-and-fro of the holiday shoppers

First Known Use of to-and-fro

1553

in the meaning defined above

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to-and-fro

adjective

Definition of to-and-fro

: forward and backward

See to-and-fro defined for kids

First Known Use of to-and-fro

1749

in the meaning defined above

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NEW! Time Traveler

to and fro

adverb

Definition of to and fro

: from one place to another

Recent Examples of to and fro from the Web

Staffers in crisp white uniforms and white pointed chef’s caps dart to and fro.

— hilary cadigan, Bon Appetit, "In a Land of Tortilla Factories, Enrique Olvera’s New Tortilleria Is Doing It Old School," 20 June 2018
Still passing to and fro, The young heart hot and restless, And the old subdued and slow!

— BostonGlobe.com, "Read the poem that inspired the Longfellow Bridge’s name," 31 May 2018
Find out 14 cameras captured you on your drive to and fro and will be fining you $920.

— peter hermann, Washington Post, "Police release surveillance video showing man kicking over speed camera," 26 Feb. 2018
Watching the guys dodge and dive to and fro while being bossed around by these hardcore kids was everything.

— becca kufrin, PEOPLE.com, "Bachelorette Becca Kufrin Explains Her Frustration Over Colton's Past with Tia: 'Can I Trust Him?'," 5 June 2018
The Warriors at their best are like a basketball version of the Blue Angels, with players darting to and fro while stopping only briefly to set a few screens along the way.

— sam amick, USA TODAY, "The Warriors' magic number: How 300 has helped fuel a dynasty," 14 May 2018
The four different guys who have already traveled the Triple-A to and fro.

— kevin acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Goodness of Padres' bullpen relied on too greatly," 18 Apr. 2018
The tour sites are close enough to each other to walk or bike to and fro.

— calvin finch, San Antonio Express-News, "Explore the ‘secret gardens’ of King William," 27 Apr. 2018
This may have freed the creatures’ strong forelimbs—tipped with sharp claws—for defense, allowing them to swivel to and fro.

— sid perkins, Science | AAAS, "Ancient human-sloth hunt hinted at in 15,000-year-old footprints," 25 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'to and fro.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of to and fro

14th century

in the meaning defined above

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to-and-fro

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to and fro

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