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

Devices should be encrypted, powered down before border crossings, and stripped of non-essential data. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025

This is because, under the Canada–U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), refugee (asylum) claims at official land border crossings are barred. —Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

The continued closure of all border crossings has blocked humanitarian aid. —Diaa Ostaz, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2025

Border Patrol agent Orlando Marrero-Rubio explains that even though southern border crossings have plummeted drastically since January, agents still need the extra observational help provided by the Strykers. —Jason Allen, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for crossing

• bossing
• glossing
• tossing
• crisscrossing
• embossing
• outcrossing
• recrossing

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