# fro

/ˈfɹoʊ/ (US) · /fɹˈəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fro
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. backwards

adverb · CEFR B2 · Literary

used in the phrase 'to and fro' to describe moving back and forth between two places.

For teachers: denoting movement away or backward; surviving almost exclusively in the fixed coordinate phrase 'to and fro'.

- The small boat rocked to and fro on the gentle waves.
- The pendulum swung to and fro with hypnotic regularity, marking the passage of seconds in the silent hallway.

Usage: Almost always occurs as part of the idiom 'to and fro'.

### 2. hairstyle

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a short, informal way to say 'Afro'—a thick, round hairstyle of naturally curly hair.

For teachers: a clipping of 'afro', referring to a hairstyle characterized by natural, tightly curled hair grown into a rounded shape.

- He decided to grow out his hair into a stylish fro.
- The musician was iconic not just for his bass playing, but for the perfectly maintained fro he sported throughout the seventies.

## Examples

- The children ran to and fro in the park.
- The pendulum swung to and fro, marking each second with a rhythmic click.
- The small boat tossed to and fro on the choppy waters of the bay as the storm clouds gathered on the horizon.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.