up-and-down

1 of 2

adjective

ˌəp-ən(d)-ˈdau̇n 

ˌəp-ᵊm-

1

: marked by alternate upward and downward movement, action, or surface

2

: perpendicular

up and down

2 of 2

adverb

1

: to and fro

paced up and down

2

: so as to move upward and then downward repeatedly

jumping up and down

3

archaic : here and there especially throughout an area

4

: with regard to every particular : thoroughly

knew the territory up and down

up and down preposition

Examples of up-and-down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Red Sox, who’d won a wild card in an up-and-down season last year, had come out of spring training expected to contend for a playoff spot, but by the time Cora was fired the team had dropped seven games below five hundred. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Much like the Jets’ offense as a whole, Klubnik has had up-and-down performances throughout training camp. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026

Adverb

Really good stuff up and down the lineup. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026

Inside a historic church on Park Avenue, two dancers clothed in blue-and-pink brocade twirl up and down the aisles to a string-heavy soundtrack. — Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for up-and-down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown

Kids Definition

up-and-down

adjective

1

: marked by alternate upward and downward movement, action, or surface

2

: perpendicular entry 1 sense 1