bidirectional

adjective

bi·​di·​rec·​tion·​al ˌbī-də-ˈrek-sh(ə-)nəl 

-dī-

: involving, moving, or taking place in two usually opposite directions

bidirectional flow

bidirectional replication of DNA

bidirectionally adverb

Examples of bidirectional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That idea has more recently been supplanted by the concept of bidirectional assimilation, the theory that just as immigrants adapt to their new country, its institutions adapt to them. —Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2025

Dogs’ remarkable social flexibility appears to be both a product of evolutionary domestication and the bidirectional influence of human interaction. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025

Takahashi's bidirectional system is far more power hungry. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Fermata Energy’s bidirectional chargers will manage the discharge of that energy back to the grid during periods of peak demand. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bidirectional

• intersectional
• affectional
• correctional
• directional
• inflectional
• multidirectional
• omnidirectional
• unidirectional
• sectional

Kids Definition

bidirectional

adjective

bi·​di·​rec·​tion·​al ˌbī-də-ˈrek-sh(ə-)nəl 

-dī-

: involving, moving, or taking place in usually two opposite directions

Medical Definition

bidirectional

adjective

bi·​di·​rec·​tion·​al ˌbī-də-ˈrek-shnəl, -dī-, -shən-ᵊl 

: involving, moving, or taking place in two usually opposite directions

bidirectional flow of materials in axons

bidirectional replication of DNA

bidirectionally

-ē 

adverb