Meaning & use
bi-directional
Last updated
UK/ˌbaɪ.daɪˈrek.ʃən.əl/
US/ˌbaɪ.dəˈrek.ʃən.əl/
Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Working or moving in two opposite directions, or allowing flow both ways.
Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: a bi-directional link.
Patterns
- bi-directional communication between something and something
The two offices share a bi-directional data link.
A bi-directional road lets cars travel both ways.
The headset offers bi-directional audio so both people can talk at once.
Common combinations
- bi-directional communication
- Bi-directional communication lets both sides send messages.
- bi-directional traffic
- Bi-directional traffic flows on the bridge.
- bi-directional flow
- The valve allows bi-directional flow.
- bi-directional link
- The sites have a bi-directional link.
Synonyms and how they differ
- two-way
- Two-way is plainer and used in everyday speech, while bi-directional sounds technical.
- reciprocal
- Reciprocal stresses mutual exchange between parties, not necessarily physical direction.
- dual-direction
- Dual-direction is a rarer technical variant with the same sense.
Opposites
Word family
- direction noun
- the way something moves
- directional adjective
- relating to direction
- unidirectional adjective
- going one way only
- bi-directionally adverb
- in both directions
Commonly confused: bi-directional or bilateral?
bi-directional vs bilateral
Bilateral means involving two sides or parties, such as a treaty, not movement in two directions.
Practice
The cable allows ______ transfer, so data moves from the phone to the laptop and back.
Choose one answer.
Data moving both ways is bi-directional. One-way would mean only one direction.
Make it your own
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