Sign in
Enter the word for search

back-and-forth

UK
/ˌbæk.əndˈfɔːθ/
US
/ˌbæk.əndˈfɔrθ/

Translations

back-and-forthnoun
UK
/ˌbæk.əndˈfɔːθ/
US
/ˌbæk.əndˈfɔrθ/
Often uncountable in the sense of repeated exchange or movement; plural back-and-forths is also possible for individual instances.
The boat's back-and-forth made several passengers seasick.
Le va-et-vient du bateau a rendu plusieurs passagers malades du mal de mer.
Additional translations
échangeDans le contexte d’une discussion ou de messages.
Synonyms
exchange
interchange
dialogue
discussion
conversation
debate
discourse
give-and-take
argument
sparring
banter
Antonyms
monologue
silence
stillness
steadiness
one-sidedness
back-and-forthadjective
Usually used attributively before a noun.
à va-et-vient
They watched the back-and-forth motion of the swing.
Ils ont regardé le mouvement à va-et-vient de la balançoire.
Additional translations
de va-et-vientPour un échange répété d’arguments, de remarques ou d’actions.
Synonyms
two-way
reciprocal
mutual
bidirectional
alternating
to-and-fro
forth-and-back
give-and-take
oscillating
seesawing
Antonyms
one-way
one-sided
unidirectional
steady
continuous
linear
back-and-forthadverb
Adverbial use exists, though the spelling back and forth is often more common.
d’un côté à l’autre
The child moved back-and-forth across the room.
L’enfant s’est déplacé d’un côté à l’autre de la pièce.
Synonyms
back and forth
to and fro
to-and-fro
forth and back
backwards and forwards
backward and forward
from side to side
alternately
alternatively
reciprocally
repeatedly
again and again
Antonyms
steadily
continuously
unidirectionally

Definitions

back-and-forthnoun
A repeated movement from one place, side, or direction to another and back again.
The boat's back-and-forth made several passengers seasick.
A repeated exchange of remarks, messages, opinions, or arguments between people or groups.
The email back-and-forth continued until late evening.
back-and-forthadjective
Moving or happening repeatedly in opposite directions or between two places.
They watched the back-and-forth motion of the swing.
Involving repeated exchange of remarks, messages, or actions between people or groups.
We had a back-and-forth discussion about the proposal.
back-and-forthadverb
In a repeated movement or exchange from one place, side, or person to another and back again.
The child moved back-and-forth across the room.
OverviewPhrasesLibraryExamplesAI ExpertDictionaries