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

• athwart
• over
• through

Adverb

• athwart
• over
• through

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

Both the 13-year Brood XIX and the 17-year Brood XIII are periodical cicadas, which emerge every 13 or 17 years across North America. —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

Make a big deal about retiring the number 5 and draping it across the Coliseum end zone seats. —Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 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

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