crossing

noun

cross·​ing ˈkrȯ-siŋ 

1

: the act or action of crossing: such as

a

: a traversing or traveling across

b

: an opposing, blocking, or thwarting especially in an unfair or dishonest manner

2

a

: a place or structure (as on a street or over a river) where pedestrians or vehicles cross

especially : crosswalk

b

: the place in a cruciform church where the transept crosses the nave

c

: a place where a railroad track crosses a street

Synonyms

• cruise
• passage
• sail
• voyage

Examples of crossing in a Sentence

Stop at the railroad crossing.

a crossing for ferry boats

the crossing of a mountain range

a weeklong crossing of the Atlantic Ocean

Recent Examples on the Web

Those crossings, however, have plunged this year, reaching a three-year low in June, after Mr. Biden issued an executive order banning most migrants from asylum. —Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 22 July 2024

Border crossings are down dramatically, and Trump killed the bipartisan legislation that could have fixed the problem permanently. —Dana Milbank, Washington Post, 22 July 2024

Life-threatening flash flooding of low-water crossings, creeks, normally dry washes and roads is possible. —Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 20 July 2024

Since Israel’s early May assault on Rafah and takeover of the Gaza Strip’s lone border crossing with Egypt, Palestinians can no longer enter or leave the enclave. —Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing crossing

• crossing guard
• crossing-over
• grade crossing
• level crossing
• pedestrian crossing
• pelican crossing
• railroad crossing
• zebra crossing

Kids Definition

crossing

noun

cross·​ing ˈkrȯ-siŋ 

1

a

: the act of one that crosses

b

: a voyage across water

c

: the act or process of interbreeding or hybridizing

2

: a place where a street or stream is crossed

3

: a place where two things (as a street and a railroad track) cross