bidirectional

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparable

   Moving, working, or sending information in two opposite directions.

   Grammar: Not usually compared: you say 'bidirectional', not 'more bidirectional'.

   Patterns

   • bidirectional flow
   • bidirectional communication
   • bidirectional between A and B

   The new road allows bidirectional traffic.

   The app supports bidirectional data transfer.

   Bidirectional communication means both sides can send and receive.

2. 2adjectivenot comparabletechnical

   Involving two-way interaction or influence between two things.

   Grammar: Often used before a noun: 'a bidirectional relationship'.

   Patterns

   • bidirectional relationship
   • bidirectional influence

   There is a bidirectional relationship between stress and sleep.

   The study found bidirectional effects between the two variables.

Common combinations

bidirectional traffic

The bridge now carries bidirectional traffic.

bidirectional communication

Good teamwork requires bidirectional communication.

bidirectional data flow

The system manages bidirectional data flow between servers.

bidirectional relationship

They studied the bidirectional relationship between diet and mood.

Synonyms and how they differ

two-way

The everyday equivalent; use it in general writing, while 'bidirectional' is more technical.

reciprocal

Focuses on mutual exchange rather than physical direction; common in academic contexts.

mutual

Emphasizes shared feelings or actions, not direction of movement or signals.

Opposites

Word family

direction noun

The path along which someone or something moves or faces.

directional adjective

Relating to direction, especially in signals or movement.

bidirectionally adverb

In a way that involves two opposite directions.

Commonly confused: bidirectional or unidirectional? bidirectional or bilateral?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “bidirectional”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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