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back and forth

back and forth
B b

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [bak and fawrth, fohrth]
    • /bæk ænd fɔrθ, foʊrθ/
    • /bæk ənd fɔːθ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [bak and fawrth, fohrth]
    • /bæk ænd fɔrθ, foʊrθ/

Definitions of back and forth words

  • phrase back and forth If someone moves back and forth, they repeatedly move in one direction and then in the opposite direction. 3
  • noun back and forth to and fro 3
  • noun back and forth from side to side 3
  • adjective back and forth moving forward and backward; to-and-fro 3
  • adjective back and forth situated at or in the rear: at the back door; back fence. 1
  • adjective back and forth far away or removed from the front or main area, position, or rank; remote: back settlements. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of back and forth

First appearance:

before 1605
One of the 40% oldest English words
First recorded in 1605-15

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Back and forth

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

back and forth popularity

This term is known only to a narrow circle of people with rare knowledge. Only 29% of English native speakers know the meaning of this word.
According to our data about 64% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

back and forth usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for back and forth

adv back and forth

  • seesaw — a recreation in which two children alternately ride up and down while seated at opposite ends of a plank balanced at the middle.
  • to and fro — back-and-forth: to-and-fro motion.
  • vacillating — not resolute; wavering; indecisive; hesitating: an ineffectual, vacillating person.
  • alternating — happening in succession
  • from pillar to post — an upright shaft or structure, of stone, brick, or other material, relatively slender in proportion to its height, and of any shape in section, used as a building support, or standing alone, as for a monument: Gothic pillars; a pillar to commemorate Columbus.

See also

Matching words

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