switchback
Americannoun
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a highway, as in a mountainous area, having many hairpin curves.
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Railroads. a zigzag track arrangement for climbing a steep grade.
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British. roller coaster.
verb (used without object)
noun
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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
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another word (esp Brit) for big dipper
Etymology
Origin of switchback
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.
As we hiked the short distance from Pacific Coast Highway on the rocky switchback trail, she caught glimpses of the sculpted sea stacks rising 50 meters from the sand and shallow waters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 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
The chaotic manner of victory was in keeping with a switchback contest the visitors had initially led through Danilo's fabulous control and shot from the edge of the area after just three minutes.
From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2024
The city also has limited wildfire equipment, and it’s nearly impossible to get a fire engine up some switchback roads to homes nestled high up mountains.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2023
We hike up the steep switchback road in silence.
From "Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
