crisscross

1 of 3

verb

criss·​cross ˈkris-ˌkrȯs How to pronounce crisscross (audio)
crisscrossed; crisscrossing; crisscrosses
Synonyms of crisscrossnext

transitive verb

1
: to mark with intersecting lines
2
: to pass back and forth through or over

intransitive verb

1
: to go or pass back and forth
2

crisscross

2 of 3

adjective

: marked or characterized by crisscrossing
crisscross adverb

crisscross

3 of 3

noun

1
: a crisscross pattern : network
2
: the state of being at cross-purposes
also : a confused state

Examples of crisscross in a Sentence

Verb Several highways crisscross the state. shoelaces that crisscross over the top of the shoe Tourists crisscrossed the lake from morning until night. Scientists have been crisscrossing the country to collect data. Noun She pointed toward the crisscross of trees that had fallen on the path.
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.
Verb
Charli would text Cook promoting singles for a third album that would eventually be scrapped (that’s a whole other chunk of their lore) and crisscrossing the globe to perform. Matthew Huff, Vanity Fair, 27 Jan. 2026 In the course of sixteen months, from 1914 to 1915, the Routledges and their crew crisscrossed the island on horseback, worked closely with an influential islander named Tepano Ramo a Veriamo, and produced a pioneering survey of Rapa Nui’s topography and monuments. Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Over time, the crisscross pattern became iconic, turning what was once a practical step into a symbol of the cookie itself. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Dec. 2025 Lottie Moss went for a crisscross style in Munich earlier this week. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 Dec. 2025
Noun
Rather than the usual crisscross pattern, Holmes’ sweater features solid block diamonds in bold colors for a harlequin look that is honestly a breath of fresh air. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Jan. 2026 As the two crisscross the city covering what will become Afghanistan’s final days of freedom, a tentative romance emerges, pushing Naru to question her assumptions in a society stacked against her. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crisscross

Word History

Etymology

Verb

obsolete christcross, crisscross mark of a cross

First Known Use

Verb

1818, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1614, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crisscross was in 1614

Cite this Entry

“Crisscross.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crisscross. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

crisscross

1 of 2 verb
criss·​cross ˈkris-ˌkrȯs How to pronounce crisscross (audio)
1
: to mark with lines that cross each other
2
: to go or cross back and forth

crisscross

2 of 2 noun
: a pattern formed by crossed lines
crisscross adjective or adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on crisscross

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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