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DictionaryfroBackward direction
adverb

fro

Back or away, chiefly in the phrase “to and fro.”

The curtains sway to and fro in the breeze.

Etymology
froOld Norsefrom; away

Old Norse frá means from or away. In to and fro, it supplies the return or away-going direction opposite to movement toward a point.

More examples

  • He paces to and fro while waiting for news.
  • The pendulum swings to and fro.
  • We pass the ball to and fro across the table.

Similar words

back
Expresses return or reverse direction without requiring a fixed phrase.
backward
Describes movement opposite the forward direction, not necessarily repeated movement.