across the board

1 of 2

phrase

Synonyms of across the boardnext
: so as to include or affect all classes or categories
cut spending across the board
also : in all areas or respects
considered an average player across the board

across-the-board

2 of 2

adjective

1
: placed to win if a competitor wins, places, or shows
an across-the-board racing bet
2
: embracing or affecting all classes or categories : blanket
an across-the-board price increase

Examples of across the board in a Sentence

Adjective an across-the-board reduction in the state's budget because of declining revenues
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Trump imposed a temporary, across-the-board 10% duty that Congress would have to approve after 150 days. Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 May 2026 In a meeting with Greer, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič on Tuesday pushed for Washington to uphold its side of the deal, which entailed a 15 percent across-the-board tariff rate. Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 6 May 2026 In 2013, federal across-the-board spending cuts eliminated services for more than 955,000 crime victims in a single year. Andrea Hagan, The Conversation, 6 May 2026 Instead of making across-the-board program cuts or raising taxes to align spending with revenue, Democrats have tapped into reserves designed to preserve social services for the state’s most disadvantaged communities during economic downturns. Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for across the board

Word History

First Known Use

Phrase

1946, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of across the board was in 1945

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Across the board.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/across%20the%20board. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

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