up-and-down

American  

[uhp-uhn-doun] / ˈʌp ənˈdaʊn /

adjective

1. moving alternately up and down.

   the up-and-down swing of levers; an up-and-down tune.

2. having an uneven surface.

   up-and-down countryside.

3. changeable.

   up-and-down luck.

4. perpendicular or nearly so.

   a straight up-and-down hillside.

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up-and-down British  

adjective

1. moving, executed, or formed alternately upwards and downwards

2. very steep; vertical

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adverb

1. backwards and forwards (along)

Other Word Forms

• up-and-downness noun

Etymology

Origin of up-and-down

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

McIlroy got up-and-down birdie from a bunker at 17 before he rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt from the fringe at the last.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

U.S. natural gas futures continued to trade in an up-and-down pattern after last week’s big selloff, settling higher with a slight cooldown in midday weather runs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

Moore’s departure ends an up-and-down tenure at the University of Michigan.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 11, 2025

But Antonelli has had an up-and-down year, and a string of errors through the European season led to Wolff calling his performance at the Italian Grand Prix "underwhelming".

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

In his lean throat the sharp-pointed Adam’s apple made a surprisingly rapid up-and-down movement, and the beer vanished.

From "1984" by George Orwell