crossing

1 of 2

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

crossing

2 of 2

present participle of cross entry 2

Synonyms of crossing

Noun

• voyage
• cruise

Examples of crossing in a Sentence

Noun

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

Noun

The honor recognizes artists whose careers and creative choices illuminate complex, boundary-crossing stories and expand representation in global entertainment. — Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Apply the same technique to other theme answers, relying on the crossing entries for help. — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026

That suffering has intensified with every Israeli bomb dropped on ambulances waiting outside hospitals, every drone strike targeting a residential building or journalist, and every shipment of food aid turned away at a border crossing. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Maritime intelligence software company Windward counted 11 tanker and cargo crossings in the 24 hours ending Tuesday, with three inbound and eight outbound. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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