1
: with legs crossed and knees spread wide apart
2
: with one leg placed over and across the other

Examples of cross-legged in a Sentence

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.
On Friday, July 31, the son of Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy Osbourne shared a photo of himself holding his and wife Aree Osbourne’s youngest daughter in his arms while sitting cross-legged in a park. Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 The Anchorman star shared a photo reminiscent of the artwork on Nancy Priddy’s You’ve Come This Way Before, where mother and daughter both posed sitting cross-legged on the ground, wearing a denim shirt and jeans. Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026 Under the supervision of a local artisan, guests sit cross-legged on a carpet beneath a large tree and weave their own small version of the bed. Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Across the courtyard, a similarly sized group gathers in a large warehouse for a yoga and mindfulness session, sitting cross-legged on their mats as another instructor shares tips on staying focused and remaining calm under pressure. Christopher Clark, NPR, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cross-legged

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross-legged was circa 1530

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Cite this Entry

“Cross-legged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-legged. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

cross-legged

adverb
ˈkrȯ-ˈsleg(-ə)d
: with the legs crossed and the knees spread wide
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