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
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Williams, who endured an up-and-down 2025 with the Yankees, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his sixth save in seven opportunities.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 17 May 2026
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
The cross-Atlantic collaboration set up a temporary test site on Jekyll Island, one of the southernmost in the Sea Islands string of barrier islands that stretch up and down the coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
—C.c. Weiss
may 27, New Atlas, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for up-and-down
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Adjective
The Winter Spring girls battled through the up-and-down emotions of having to deal with the death of teammate Kennedy Jackson, the starting first baseman as a freshman last year.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Williams, who endured an up-and-down 2025 with the Yankees, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his sixth save in seven opportunities.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 17 May 2026
Adverb
Maye was up and down during last spring’s practice sessions.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
The cross-Atlantic collaboration set up a temporary test site on Jekyll Island, one of the southernmost in the Sea Islands string of barrier islands that stretch up and down the coast of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
—C.c. Weiss
may 27, New Atlas, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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 29 May. 2026.
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