: backward and forward
also
: between two places or persons
Synonyms
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
Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
Those labor strikes were unprecedented, but the revelations around Cruise’s back-and-forth with regulators were also unnerving GM shareholders.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 May 2024
The public back-and-forth over debates started on Wednesday morning, after Mr. Biden’s campaign chair, Ms. O’Malley Dillon, sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 15 May 2024
That chatbot model will also be able to pull off natural, back-and-forth conversation and can be interrupted, just as Gemini Live will.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 14 May 2024
Plus the Avs are locked in a back-and-forth battle with Dallas on the NHL front.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
The great majority of private insurers cover treatments, although sometimes back-and-forth negotiations are needed, said Gary Goldstein, who oversees the business operations of Stanford’s Blood & Marrow Transplant Program.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024
The 52-year-old NBA great has taken aim at Sharpe, 55, amid their back-and-forth by releasing a diss track on Friday, May 10.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
Fans and critics have become concerned that the back-and-forth could have real-life consequences, citing the battle between the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 May 2024
Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Lamar and Drake have been trading insults back and forth for several weeks in a series of songs that captivated social media users.
—Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024
While the novel is told almost exclusively from Jason's point of view, the show jumps back and forth between a variety of character's perspectives, giving viewers more insight into different relationships.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 8 May 2024
Tóibín handles these uncertainties and moral conundrums with exquisite delicacy, zigzagging back and forth through time to build to a devastating climax.
—Heller McAlpin, NPR, 7 May 2024
After arguing back and forth, Dolores decides to step in.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Our eyes keep going back and forth between her arches and her warm glowy blush.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 6 May 2024
Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been going back and forth for what feels like forever (it’s only been about a month).
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 6 May 2024
If the speed is low enough, the pendulum will oscillate back and forth.
—Leila Sloman, WIRED, 5 May 2024
Noun
In a back-and-forth fourth set, Magnin had two early kills to maintain a two-point Mavericks cushion.
—Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2024
Those labor strikes were unprecedented, but the revelations around Cruise’s back-and-forth with regulators were also unnerving GM shareholders.
—Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 16 May 2024
The public back-and-forth over debates started on Wednesday morning, after Mr. Biden’s campaign chair, Ms. O’Malley Dillon, sent a letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 15 May 2024
That chatbot model will also be able to pull off natural, back-and-forth conversation and can be interrupted, just as Gemini Live will.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 14 May 2024
Plus the Avs are locked in a back-and-forth battle with Dallas on the NHL front.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 13 May 2024
The great majority of private insurers cover treatments, although sometimes back-and-forth negotiations are needed, said Gary Goldstein, who oversees the business operations of Stanford’s Blood & Marrow Transplant Program.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024
The 52-year-old NBA great has taken aim at Sharpe, 55, amid their back-and-forth by releasing a diss track on Friday, May 10.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
Fans and critics have become concerned that the back-and-forth could have real-life consequences, citing the battle between the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 10 May 2024
Adverb
What little information is publicly available suggests Suarez spent the weekend toggling back and forth between his roles as mayor and businessman, blurring what are supposed to be clear lines between his public office and private business under Florida’s ethics rules.
—Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
Lamar and Drake have been trading insults back and forth for several weeks in a series of songs that captivated social media users.
—Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 9 May 2024
While the novel is told almost exclusively from Jason's point of view, the show jumps back and forth between a variety of character's perspectives, giving viewers more insight into different relationships.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 8 May 2024
Tóibín handles these uncertainties and moral conundrums with exquisite delicacy, zigzagging back and forth through time to build to a devastating climax.
—Heller McAlpin, NPR, 7 May 2024
After arguing back and forth, Dolores decides to step in.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Our eyes keep going back and forth between her arches and her warm glowy blush.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 6 May 2024
Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been going back and forth for what feels like forever (it’s only been about a month).
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 6 May 2024
If the speed is low enough, the pendulum will oscillate back and forth.
—Leila Sloman, WIRED, 5 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'back-and-forth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 23 May. 2024.
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