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

• 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

Ma’anshan Railway Bridge – 345 m The Ma’anshan Yangtze River Bridge in Anhui Province, China, is a road-rail bridge under construction, not a rail-only crossing. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2025

In addition, reported unauthorized border crossing attempts have plummeted. —Phillip Reese, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025

Bonds Ranch Road in far north Fort Worth is notoriously frustrating for its traffic congestion, roundabouts and train crossings. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025

In November, O'Brady, 40, will embark on a solo, unsupported 2,000-mile ski crossing of Antarctica over 110 days. —Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 2 Oct. 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