two by two

phrase

: two at a time : first two and then another two, etc.
They entered the room two by two.

Examples of two by two in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Bells tolled through the misty Alpine mountain valley as hundreds of priests walked two by two to the altar under a tent to start the service and then again at the end. — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 So many were paired off, two by two, as sandhill cranes often are. — Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2026 The children, two by two, walked into the woods solemnly, the hurricane lamp swinging, the light vanishing and then returning. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026 Thou shalt resist the urge to collect all botanical beings, two by two, regardless of any sacred recommendations. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025 And then there’s been this year, when the hornworms and aphids have been pairing up two by two with their umbrellas. — Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Two by two.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two%20by%20two. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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