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

Wright rebounded from an up-and-down training camp to earn second-team AP All-Pro honors last season. — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 28 July 2026

Luis Antonio Tejeda via 10th-Round KO After an up-and-down performance through parts of the first nine rounds, Aokuso delivered an explosive one-punch KO that left Tejeda out cold, lying flat on his back. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 26 July 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