crossroad

noun

cross·​road ˈkrȯs-ˌrōd How to pronounce crossroad (audio)
 also  -ˈrōd
1
: a road that crosses a main road or runs cross-country between main roads
2
usually crossroads ˈkrȯs-ˌrōdz How to pronounce crossroad (audio)
 also  -ˈrōdz
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
a
: the place of intersection of two or more roads
b(1)
: a small community located at such a crossroads
(2)
: a central meeting place
c
: a crucial point especially where a decision must be made

Examples of crossroad in a Sentence

Traffic was stopped at the crossroad. We turned onto a crossroad.
Recent Examples on the Web The former vice president also cited Biblical scripture, particularly the Book of Jeremiah, to persuade his party members at a crossroads to embrace his vision. Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner, 6 Sep. 2023 Boston police watchdog agency at crossroads as directors leave, first sustained complaint rejected The move was announced via internal memo, with no grand announcement to the public. Sean Cotter, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023 Related Stories Beginning in early 2022, American Symphony finds Batiste at a crossroads. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2023 Llano was a particularly attractive target, Dickson said, because the town sits at the crossroads of several highways. Caroline Kitchener, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2023 At the crossroads in the tiny coastal town of Steinhatchee, population 580, Dustin Bass was busy on Tuesday boarding up the businesses of friends who were out of state — the ice cream shop, kayak rental and a real estate office. Annie Gowen, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023 The New South Wales brand prides itself on being at the crossroads of sustainability and luxury. Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2023 Belarus, which has been aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine, sits at a strategically important crossroads of Europe, bordering NATO countries such as Poland, Lithuania and Latvia in addition to Ukraine. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 21 Aug. 2023 Situated at the crossroads of Interstate 81/77, show Number 13 found Allman and Frankenreiter at the Millwald Theatre in Wytheville, Virginia. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crossroad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crossroad was in 1686

Dictionary Entries Near crossroad

Cite this Entry

“Crossroad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crossroad. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

crossroad

noun
cross·​road ˈkrȯs-ˌrōd How to pronounce crossroad (audio)
-ˈrōd
1
: a road that crosses a main road or runs across country between main roads
2
a
: a place where roads cross
usually used in plural
b
: a small community at a crossroads
3
: a place or time at which a decision must be made
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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