Back-and-forth Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

back-and-forth

1 of 2

noun

back and forth

2 of 2

adverb

: backward and forward
also : between two places or persons

Examples of back-and-forth in a Sentence

Adverb The chair rocked back and forth. The children were shuttled back and forth between school and home.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In a rematch of the 2022 final – which Świątek clinched with a similarly imperious 6-4 6-1 win – the Pole narrowly edged a back-and-forth opening set, but the second was over in the blink of an eye. Matias Grez, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Alito said the intense back-and-forth and constant demands from the Biden administration at the height of the vaccination campaign in 2021 suggested the government was impermissibly coordinating with, and coercing, social media companies. Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 But with 170 million American TikTok users, what's not so surprising is the politics playing a part in the back-and-forth over a ban, since both parties see the app as a platform to woo young voters. CBS News, 17 Mar. 2024 Some justices engaged in a public back-and-forth over the court’s legitimacy, the very topic Ms. Sotomayor raised in the courtroom. Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Mar. 2024 She was also asked to release an apology but said that after days of back-and-forth edits, Lucasfilm abandoned the effort. Shania Russell, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 After several days of back-and-forth edits, Lucasfilm ultimately felt the final statement wasn’t contrite enough and abandoned the effort. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Obviously, there’s a long way to go until November, and one day’s back-and-forth may not count for much, ultimately. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 The closed-door meeting is the latest development in a back-and-forth between the governor and those involved in the school’s $177 million budget shortfall. The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024
Adverb
Recommended Community Spring ‘breakup’: What’s behind the US beach town crackdown Meanwhile, for law enforcement in Texas, the judicial back and forth has been a prelude to, essentially, a return to business as usual. Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Mar. 2024 The back and forth illustrates how both candidates see the issue of entitlements as politically potent. Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024 The back and forth presented itself as a David vs Goliath battle between the two tech companies. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 12 Mar. 2024 After weeks of back and forth, One eventually issued a $250 credit after Bleiberg threatened to complain to the CFPB and other agencies. Craig Silverman, ProPublica, 11 Mar. 2024 After five days of public back and forth, Mr. Altman returned to his job. Cade Metz, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 During what became a shouting match, police said Gotch grabbed a 14-year-old boy by the hair and pulled his head back and forth. Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 Same goes for 22-year-old Victor, who camped out in an NYU library until 2 a.m. to avoid commuting back and forth to Jersey City. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 Mar. 2024 City concerns Escondido leaders have been going back and forth with Interfaith for months. Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 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.

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

Dictionary Entries Near back-and-forth

back and forth

back-and-forth

back-and-forthing

Cite this Entry

“Back-and-forth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-and-forth. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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