to-and-fro

1 of 3

noun

ˌtü-ən-ˈfrō 

: activity involving alternating movement in opposite directions

the busy to-and-fro of the holiday shoppers

to-and-fro

2 of 3

adjective

: forward and backward

to and fro

3 of 3

adverb

: from one place to another

Examples of to-and-fro in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Not to mention the free marketing to nearly 30,000 passengers traveling to-and-fro everyday. —Lily O'Neill, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Jan. 2026

There’s not much to quibble with in the market’s to-and-fro oscillations among sectors and themes so far. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026

Adjective

There’s not much to quibble with in the market’s to-and-fro oscillations among sectors and themes so far. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026

As the diplomatic to-and-fro continues, Russia launched one of its largest barrages of drones and missiles in months across Ukraine, killing at least seven people over the weekend, according to a CNN tally of local authority figures. —Kara Fox, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025

Adverb

There’s a lot of it, the actors regularly dashing to and fro. —Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026

Guests can book massages, a private chef, and shuttles to and fro for an additional fee. —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1749, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

to-and-fro

adjective

ˌtü-ən-ˈfrō

: forward and backward