crisscross

1 of 3

verb

criss·​cross ˈkris-ˌkrȯs 

crisscrossed; crisscrossing; crisscrosses

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

: overlap, intersect

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

Verb

Within a few hours, a search party began looking for him, crisscrossing the Blue Mountains on horseback all night as rain fell and temperatures hovered just above freezing. —Emilee Coblentz, Outside, 11 Feb. 2026

Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived. —Andrew Dampf, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 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

The shoes feature two strips across the toes that overlap and are braided together at the center, creating a subtle crisscross knot. —Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026

The roster of composers includes the Grammy-nominated Missy Mazzoli, the jazz musician Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Nico Muhly, whose prolific output crisscrosses from the Metropolitan Opera to Sufjan Stevens. —Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for crisscross

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

Kids Definition

crisscross

1 of 2 verb

criss·​cross ˈkris-ˌkrȯs 

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