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 of crossing

• voyage
• cruise

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

Ship traffic is unlikely to return to pre-war levels, of around 130 to 140 crossings a day, according to analysts, which could keep oil prices elevated for longer. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Despite repairs that included caulking with tar and hemp, the ship was deemed unfit for the Atlantic crossing and abandoned. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Beyer’s airport driver never arrived, and a nearly three-hour border crossing from Croatia into Montenegro caused Ashbaugh to miss an activity Beyer had planned in Herceg Novi. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

This is often considered the peak season for the migration, as the drama of the Mara River crossings unfolds. — Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

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