Phrase guide

up and down

adj · adv · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

Vertical; perpendicular; said of the cable when the anchor is under, or nearly under, the hawse hole, and the cable is taut.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: nautical, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Plain; downright.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, not-comparable

Examples

  • an up and down honest man

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Of a building, having two stories.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Philippines, not-comparable

Topics: architecture

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

Upward and downward, alternately.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • the tide goes up and down
  • my blood pressure goes up and down
  • She looked me up and down and hinted that I could do with losing some weight.
  • I quickly eyed the building up and down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adv

Meaning 5

Forwards and backwards alternately along a path.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • walk up and down the corridor

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adv

Meaning 6

Staunchly, unwaveringly, obstinately.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • He swore up and down that he hadn't taken the money.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adv

Meaning 7

In various places, e.g., in a country.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

adverb

Meaning 8

moving backward and forward along a given course

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he walked up and down the locker room
  • all up and down the Eastern seaboard

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

adverb

Meaning 9

alternately upward and downward

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he eyed him up and down

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: طلوع نزول (ṭlūʕ nzūl) — upward and downward, alternately
  • Dutch: op en neer — upward and downward, alternately
  • Georgian: ზემოთ-ქვემოთ (zemot-kvemot) — upward and downward, alternately
  • Georgian: ზევით-ქვევით (zevit-kvevit) — upward and downward, alternately
  • German: auf und ab — upward and downward, alternately
  • German: rauf und runter — upward and downward, alternately
  • Italian: su e giù — upward and downward, alternately
  • Korean: 이리저리 (irijeori) — upward and downward, alternately
  • Maltese: ’l fuq u ’l isfel — upward and downward, alternately
  • Romanian: în sus și în jos — upward and downward, alternately
  • Russian: вверх-вниз (vverx-vniz) — upward and downward, alternately
  • Swedish: upp och ner — upward and downward, alternately
  • Hungarian: fel s alá — alternately forwards and backwards along a path
  • Romanian: în sus și în jos — alternately forwards and backwards along a path
  • Russian: взад и вперёд (vzad i vperjód) — alternately forwards and backwards along a path
  • Swedish: fram och tillbaka — alternately forwards and backwards along a path
  • Romanian: în sus și în jos — staunchly, unwaveringly, obstinately