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

When the bell rang in Beaver Falls, where elementary, middle and high schools all occupy the main drag, KDKA Investigates found a diligent crossing guard at one intersection with four-way stops and drivers who mostly obeyed the school zone speed limit displayed with flashing lights. —Erika Stanish, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

The compilation of posts made assumptions about the streamer’s private life, what his family thought of his former partner, and more boundary-crossing observations shared as fact. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025

Low-water crossings are inundated with water and may not be passable. —Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 18 Nov. 2025

Otherwise, the court said, the law gives migrants an incentive to try to circumvent border crossings, something Congress likely did not intend. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 Nov. 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