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

Despite an up-and-down season at KU — filled with a variety of injuries and ailments — Peterson remains in contention for the first pick. — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026

Yet in keeping with the back-and-forth, up-and-down nature that the region’s weather has shown all spring, the cooling is about to stop and the air is about to get pretty warm again. — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 19 June 2026

Adverb

Testicles that move up and down depending on temperature, exercise or arousal are also normal. — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 25 June 2026

In a bid to streamline transport and logistics — and spare attendees from spending half the festival shuttling up and down the Italian Riviera — this year’s Italian Global Series Festival has drawn a clearer line between its two host cities. — Ben Croll, Variety, 25 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