To And Fro

A2 8+
Pronunciation Definitions Examples Grammatical Forms Origin and Evolution

Pronunciation: /tuː ənd frəʊ/

Definitions of to and fro

adverb moving alternately backward and forward

Example Sentences

A1 The pendulum swung to and fro in the old grandfather clock.

A2 The children played catch, throwing the ball to and fro across the yard.

B1 The boat rocked gently to and fro on the calm waves of the lake.

B2 The debate went back and forth, with each side presenting their arguments to and fro.

C1 The negotiations continued to and fro as both parties tried to reach a compromise.

C2 The dancers moved seamlessly to and fro on the stage, showcasing their skill and precision.

preposition indicating the direction of movement

Example Sentences

A1 The cat chased the ball to and fro across the room.

A2 The children played tag, running to and fro in the park.

B1 The pendulum swung to and fro in a steady rhythm.

B2 The ship rocked to and fro on the rough seas.

C1 The debate went to and fro as each side presented their arguments.

C2 The negotiations went to and fro before finally reaching a compromise.

Examples of to and fro in a Sentence

formal The pendulum swung to and fro with perfect precision.

informal I kept pacing to and fro in the waiting room.

slang We were just chillin', walkin' to and fro along the beach.

figurative Her emotions were in turmoil, tossing her thoughts to and fro.

Grammatical Forms of to and fro

past tense

went

plural

to and fros

comparative

more to and fro

superlative

most to and fro

present tense

goes to and fro

future tense

will go to and fro

perfect tense

has gone to and fro

continuous tense

is going to and fro

singular

to and fro

positive degree

to and fro

infinitive

to go to and fro

gerund

going to and fro

participle

gone to and fro

Origin and Evolution of to and fro

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English and Middle English
Story behind the word: The phrase 'to and fro' originated from Old English and Middle English, where 'to' meant 'in the direction of' and 'fro' meant 'away from'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'to and fro' has maintained its original meaning of back and forth movement, but it has become more commonly used in a figurative sense to describe indecision or uncertainty.