: backward and forward
also
: between two places or persons
Examples of back-and-forth in a Sentence
Noun
after the usual back-and-forth of official gifts, the two leaders entered into a serious discussion
the others listened with relish to the back-and-forth between the two noted professors
Adverb
The chair rocked back and forth.
The children were shuttled back and forth between school and home.
Recent Examples on the Web
Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
The two superstars announced this week that their months-long back-and-forth, which began after the 2024 Paris Olympics, will finally be put to the test when the two square off in a race to determine who really is the fastest.
—Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025
Steve Banker, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Cops believe the young suspects use the Staten Island Ferry to transport back and forth between the two boroughs following the first robbery on Feb. 10.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth
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Noun
In the post, the driver described a tense back-and-forth with a customer who insisted their order be delivered inside the public restroom of an unnamed hotel.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
The two superstars announced this week that their months-long back-and-forth, which began after the 2024 Paris Olympics, will finally be put to the test when the two square off in a race to determine who really is the fastest.
—Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025
Adverb
For example, if an asset issue was detected, solving that issue could involve multiple applications used by multiple people, seeing different information, entering different data, bouncing emails and texts back and forth, and moving information from one place to another.
—Steve Banker, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Cops believe the young suspects use the Staten Island Ferry to transport back and forth between the two boroughs following the first robbery on Feb. 10.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth
Cite this Entry
“Back-and-forth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-and-forth. Accessed 28 Feb. 2025.
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