back-and-forth

1 of 2

noun

ˈbak-ən(d)-ˈfȯrth How to pronounce back-and-forth (audio)
Synonyms of back-and-forth
: discussion sense 1, give-and-take
also : exchange sense 1

back and forth

2 of 2

adverb

: backward and forward
also : between two places or persons

Synonyms of back-and-forth

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In a back-and-forth showdown between storied programs, Duke escaped the Phog with a 74-70 overtime victory. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Reid told Simmons to seek treatment from the team’s athletic trainers and as the back-and-forth continued, Mahomes echoed Reid’s desire for Simmons to seek treatment. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Three City Section running backs — Tru Warrior Casas of Fairfax, Ceasar Reyes of Garfield and Brandon Hernandez of Panorama — are going back and forth leading the state in rushing. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 West Chester University political science professor John Kennedy said this House seat has swung back and forth since the 1950s. — Dan Snyder, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for back-and-forth

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1941, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of back-and-forth was in 1613

Rhymes for back-and-forth

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Browse Nearby Words

back and fill
back-and-forth
back and forth
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Cite this Entry

“Back-and-forth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-and-forth. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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