back-and-forth

American  

[bak-uhn-fawrth, -fohrth, -uhnd-] / ˈbæk ənˈfɔrθ, -ˈfoʊrθ, -ənd- /

adjective

1. backward and forward; side to side; to and fro.

   a back-and-forth shuttling of buses to the stadium; the back-and-forth movement of a clock's pendulum.

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noun

1. unresolved argument or discussion.

back and forth Idioms  

1. Also, backward(s) and forward(s). To and fro, moving in one direction and then the opposite and so making no progress in either. For example, The clock pendulum swung back and forth. The term is also used figuratively, as in The lawyers argued the point backwards and forwards for an entire week. [c. 1600]

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Usage

What does back-and-forth mean? Back-and-forth is a noun that means an argument or discussion in which little gets resolved.Back-and-forth is also used to describe something having a movement pattern in which it repeatedly moves somewhere and returns to where it started.A back-and-forth is a discussion where two or more people are failing to reach a compromise or a solution, as in I had a very long back-and-forth with my girlfriend about what to do with my dog.A back-and-forth is a much less productive version of a give-and-take, where people more easily reach a compromise.As an adjective, back-and-forth describes a movement from one point to another and then back to the original point, as in The audience stared at the back-and-forth movements of the hypnotist’s watch. Such a movement might be forward and backward and forward again or from one side to another and back to the first side.Example: The budget discussion became an intense back-and-forth where neither side wanted to concede anything.

Etymology

Origin of back-and-forth

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

After several rounds of back-and-forth with Paul and Peters, Mullin said he had no problem divulging some information in a secure location.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

The back-and-forth on its own may not have been big enough news to influence the stock price.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Given such concerns, to say nothing of the general inconvenience associated with daylight-saving time, it’s no surprise that there have been a growing number of calls to abolish the back-and-forth clock changing.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026

The fourth quarter went back-and-forth before the Suns built a 12-point lead with 6:28 left.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

She crosses her arms, standing up a little straighter as she watches their back-and-forth.

From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott