across

1 of 3

preposition

ə-ˈkrȯs 

 chiefly dialectal  -ˈkrȯst

1

a

: from one side to the opposite side of : over, through

swam across the river

b

: on the opposite side of

lives across the street from us

2

: so as to intersect or pass through at an angle

sawed across the grain of the wood

3

: so as to find or meet

Researchers have come across important new evidence.

4

a

: throughout

… obvious interest across the nation.

—Robert Goralski

b

: so as to include or take into consideration all classes or categories

across

2 of 3

adverb

1

: in a position reaching from one side to the other : crosswise

cut the potato across into thin slices

2

: to or on the opposite side

The stream was small enough to jump across.

3

: so as to be understandable, acceptable, or successful

trying to get an argument across

across

3 of 3

adjective

: being in a crossed position

stood with her arms across

Synonyms

Preposition

• over
• around
• through

Adverb

• through
• over

Examples of across in a Sentence

Preposition

We took a ferry across the river.

We saw them walking across the street.

She reached across the table to shake his hand.

They traveled back and forth across the border.

Airplanes flew across the sky above us.

He was seated across the table from me.

The accident happened just across the state line.

A smile spread across her face.

Looking out across the ocean, he saw land.

The sun's light spread across the mountains.

Adverb

The streams are small enough to jump across.

They walked across to the other side of the street.

They reached across and shook each other's hand.

At its widest point, the pond measures 150 feet across.

I saw them crossing the street and I waited until they were safely across.

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

Chaos reigns in the studio as ballerinas, toy soldiers, and puppets scatter across the screen. —Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025

Today, nuclear risks are escalating across nearly every measure, and many experts agree that the risk a nuclear weapon will be used — on purpose or by accident — is at the highest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. —Ernest J. Moniz, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025

Adverb

The circular stone ruins stretched about 40 feet across and matched the general design of a Roman burial mound, or tumulus, archaeologists said. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025

Models predict that neutron stars are about a dozen or so miles across, but their exact radius has always been unclear. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Additionally, the drive Beam has to be efficient and influential across functions at work underscore the importance of mastering the basics. —Jack McCullough, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Good information sharing can help retailers figure out what website domains or IP addresses to block, since threat actors are often reusing these across attacks, Clark added. —Sam Sabin, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

derivative of across entry 2

Adverb

Middle English a-croiz, a-cros "in the shape of a cross, in a crossed position, from one side to another," borrowed from Anglo-French en croiz (from en "in, on"—going back to Latin in— + croiz "cross," going back to Latin cruc-, crux) with assimilation of Anglo-French croiz to cros cross entry 1 and en to a- a- entry 1 — more at in entry 1

Adjective

derivative of across entry 2

First Known Use

Preposition

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1576, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing across

• across country
• across from
• across the board
• across the pond
• across the street
• across the way
• a rap on/over/across the knuckles
• a shot across the/someone's bow(s)
• come across
• come across as
• get across
• get one's point across
• halfway around/across the world
• put across
• put (oneself) across as
• rap (someone) on/over/across the knuckles
• run across
• splash across/over
• stumble across/on/onto/upon

Rhymes for across

• backcross
• crisscross
• lacrosse
• recross
• tomas
• albatross
• applesauce
• barabbas
• helios
• kshatriyas
• blas
• bos

Kids Definition

across

1 of 2 adverb

ə-ˈkrȯs 

1

: from one side to the other

boards sawed directly across

2

: to or on the opposite side

got across in a boat

3

: so as to be understandable or successful

get the message across

across

2 of 2 preposition

1

: to or on the opposite side of

across the street

2

: so as to cross or pass at an angle

lay one stick across another