switchback

American  

[swich-bak] / ˈswɪtʃˌbæk /

noun

1. a highway, as in a mountainous area, having many hairpin curves.

2. Railroads. a zigzag track arrangement for climbing a steep grade.

3. British. roller coaster.

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verb (used without object)

1. (of a road, railroad track, etc.) to progress through a series of hairpin curves; zigzag.

   The road switchbacks up the mountain.

switchback British  

/ ˈswɪtʃˌbæk /

noun

1. a mountain road, railway, or track which rises and falls sharply many times or a sharp rise and fall on such a road, railway, or track

2. another word (esp Brit) for big dipper

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Etymology

Origin of switchback

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; switch + back ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

switchback

It was on a street called Multiview, one switchback down from Mulholland — between Laurel and Nichols Canyon on the Valley side.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

They found that the DNA formed switchback loops as it was pushed into the capsid, an important finding as it is similar to how DNA is organized in eukaryotic cells.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 7, 2024

Reddick had to hold the front through the elevated, switchback left hand turn that saw the field bunch up and smash each other time after time on the restarts.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 26, 2023

For the actual step, Rakshith chose a jiglike routine known as a hook step, with lots of switchback movements for arms and legs.

From New York Times ● Feb. 21, 2023

But after I came around the corner of the final switchback, before the trail flattened out through the forest, I saw Annie ahead of me.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith

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