bidirectional

American

[bahy-di-rek-shuh-nl, -dahy-] / ˌbaɪ dɪˈrɛk ʃə nl, -daɪ- /

adjective

capable of reacting or functioning in two, usually opposite, directions.

bidirectional British

/ ˌbaɪdɪˈrɛkʃənəl /

adjective

computing (of a printhead) capable of printing from left to right and from right to left

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of bidirectional

First recorded in 1940–45; bi- ¹ + directional

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

bidirectional

For instance, the researchers built a bidirectional switch using two transistors that detect OC 12.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

There is bidirectional charging External link, allowing an EV to power a home or sell electricity back to the grid during periods of peak demand.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Last month, Tims installed a transfer switch and a bidirectional EV charger for a customer to use a Cybertruck, equivalent to more than six Powerwalls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 1, 2026

The company plans to eventually offer an on-demand ride-hailing service using purpose-built autonomous vehicles with no steering wheel and bidirectional capability.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2025

In California, for example, the state Senate has considered requiring EVs to be bidirectional.

From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2024

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023