English Meaning & Definitions
Moving in a constant back-and-forth or side-to-side motion between two points.
- “The caged lion paced to and fro in its enclosure.”
- “She rocked the baby to and fro until he finally fell asleep.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “to and fro”.
The phrase dates back to the late 14th century. It is a compound of the prepositions 'to' (indicating direction toward) and 'fro' (a Middle English/Old Norse derivative of 'from,' indicating direction away). It reflects the rhythmic, repetitive motion of moving between two points.
Think of a pendulum: it goes 'to' one side and 'fro' (from) the other.
Frequently Asked Questions About “to and fro”
1. What is the meaning of “to and fro” in English?
In English, to and fro (adverb) is defined as: “Moving in a constant back-and-forth or side-to-side motion between two points.”.
2. How do you use “to and fro” in a sentence?
“The caged lion paced to and fro in its enclosure.”
3. What are English synonyms of “to and fro”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “to and fro”?
The phrase dates back to the late 14th century. It is a compound of the prepositions 'to' (indicating direction toward) and 'fro' (a Middle English/Old Norse derivative of 'from,' indicating direction away). It reflects the rhythmic, repetitive motion of moving between two points.
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