1
: to and fro
paced up and down
2
: so as to move upward and then downward repeatedly
jumping up and down
3
archaic
: here and there especially throughout an area
4
: with regard to every particular : thoroughly
knew the territory up and down
up and down
preposition
Examples of up-and-down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Fitzpatrick, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2024
Marvel’s diplomatically up-and-down recent history has sat alongside a desire from its parent company Disney to see the studio capitalize on the post-Endgame era with Marvel content overflowing from not just the box office, but our TV screens as well.
—James Whitbrook / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 May 2024
Taking questions from the media after her remarks, Yellen acknowledged that while Arizona is a beneficiary of the CHIPS Act, the Phoenix area’s new dependence on the semiconductor industry, which is notoriously prone to up-and-down cycles, could add risk to its economic system, too.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
It’s been an up-and-down first six weeks of the season for the defending world champion Texas Rangers.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2024
After an up-and-down season, Coach Darvin Ham’s status with the organization is reportedly up in the air, with ESPN and The Athletic reporting that his job is in jeopardy.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 30 Apr. 2024
Pain, love, struggles, up-and-down life, the journey of life.
—Fred Bronson, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Instead of pedaling or pushing the bike forward, riders do an up-and-down pumping motion with their body to maintain momentum.
—Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
The Charlotte native, who is listed as 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds, has had an up-and-down draft journey over the past few months, but the buzz is starting to build based on his film and pre-draft workouts.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
William Goodman, Men's Health, 8 Apr. 2023
Councilmember Marcus Bush said that repealing the cruising ban was not just about being free to take a person’s ride up and down a city street.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2023
Over the coming weeks, the ship would be seen cruising up and down the Hudson River, astounding locals who gawked at its six decks, helipad and hot tub.
—Paul Kiel, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2023
In 1953, the same year Roger Mastrude drove up and down the West Coast for the Foreign Policy Association, Langston Hughes published a short story in the Chicago Defender in which his character Simple, a stand-in for the common man, wishes to become a giant.
—Andrew Lanham, The New Republic, 5 Apr. 2023
Other interior features include smart air vents that swivel side to side and up and down with the aid of electric motors.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 5 Apr. 2023
It's always been very up and down.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2023
And round heads are the easiest to move up and down and rotate while also concealing the mechanical joints and electronics inside.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Feb. 2023
Adjective
Morton has certainly endured his share of injuries throughout an up-and-down professional career since getting drafted 22 years ago by the Braves out of Joel Barlow High School in Connecticut.
—Mike Fitzpatrick, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2024
Marvel’s diplomatically up-and-down recent history has sat alongside a desire from its parent company Disney to see the studio capitalize on the post-Endgame era with Marvel content overflowing from not just the box office, but our TV screens as well.
—James Whitbrook / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 May 2024
Taking questions from the media after her remarks, Yellen acknowledged that while Arizona is a beneficiary of the CHIPS Act, the Phoenix area’s new dependence on the semiconductor industry, which is notoriously prone to up-and-down cycles, could add risk to its economic system, too.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
It’s been an up-and-down first six weeks of the season for the defending world champion Texas Rangers.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2024
After an up-and-down season, Coach Darvin Ham’s status with the organization is reportedly up in the air, with ESPN and The Athletic reporting that his job is in jeopardy.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 30 Apr. 2024
Pain, love, struggles, up-and-down life, the journey of life.
—Fred Bronson, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Instead of pedaling or pushing the bike forward, riders do an up-and-down pumping motion with their body to maintain momentum.
—Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024
The Charlotte native, who is listed as 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds, has had an up-and-down draft journey over the past few months, but the buzz is starting to build based on his film and pre-draft workouts.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 18 Apr. 2024
Adverb
On the courts of the Roundball Classic, Vaccaro forged connections with all kinds of coaches and athletes up and down the East Coast.
—William Goodman, Men's Health, 8 Apr. 2023
Councilmember Marcus Bush said that repealing the cruising ban was not just about being free to take a person’s ride up and down a city street.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2023
Over the coming weeks, the ship would be seen cruising up and down the Hudson River, astounding locals who gawked at its six decks, helipad and hot tub.
—Paul Kiel, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2023
In 1953, the same year Roger Mastrude drove up and down the West Coast for the Foreign Policy Association, Langston Hughes published a short story in the Chicago Defender in which his character Simple, a stand-in for the common man, wishes to become a giant.
—Andrew Lanham, The New Republic, 5 Apr. 2023
Other interior features include smart air vents that swivel side to side and up and down with the aid of electric motors.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 5 Apr. 2023
It's always been very up and down.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2023
And round heads are the easiest to move up and down and rotate while also concealing the mechanical joints and electronics inside.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'up-and-down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near up-and-down
Cite this Entry
“Up-and-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up-and-down. Accessed 18 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share