Synonyms of two-waynext
1
: moving or allowing movement in either direction
a two-way bridge
2
a
: involving or allowing an exchange between two individuals or groups
There must be good two-way communication …Jerrold Orne
especially : designed for both sending and receiving messages
two-way radio
b
: involving mutual responsibility or reciprocal relationships
… political alliance is a two-way thing …Theodore H. White
3
a
: involving two participants
a two-way race
b
sports : playing on both the offensive and defensive squads of a team (as in American football)
Frost, a throwback to the era of two-way players, is the Cardinal's starting free safety and backup quarterback.The New York Times
also : playing both offense and defense well
a basketball forward who's a talented two-way player
4
: usable in either of two manners
a two-way lamp
5
: being a cock or valve that will connect a pipe or channel with either of two others

Examples of two-way in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All of their most feasible two-way tiebreakers were sorted out in the process. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026 Poulakidas, a rookie from Yale who signed a two-way contract on March 1, had eight points and two rebounds in the third quarter. CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026 He isn’t expected to pitch and hit in the same games this season, unlike Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, though the Rangers intend to build him up towards that eventually. Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026 Boston is converting rookie guard Max Shulga’s two-way contract to a standard two-year deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported late Saturday. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for two-way

Word History

First Known Use

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of two-way was in 1571

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Two-way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two-way. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

two-way

adjective
1
: moving or acting or allowing movement or action in either direction
two-way traffic
a two-way street
2
a
: involving two persons or groups
communication is a two-way process
b
: made to send and receive messages
a two-way radio

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