intersect

verb

in·​ter·​sect ˌin-tər-ˈsekt 

intersected; intersecting; intersects

transitive verb

: to pierce or divide by passing through or across : cross

a comet intersecting earth's orbit

one line intersects another

intransitive verb

1

: to meet and cross at a point

lines intersecting at right angles

2

: to share a common area : overlap

where morality and self-interest intersect

Synonyms of intersect

• cross

Examples of intersect in a Sentence

A dry stream bed intersects the trail in several places.

Line A intersects with line B.

The two roads intersect at the edge of town.

Recent Examples on the Web

The combination of dangerous smog levels and chronic water shortages has heightened domestic tensions, with environmental stress increasingly intersecting with political and economic grievances. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

Today’s programming challenges formats, platforms hybrid works, and opens conversations intersecting cinema with activism, memory, and indigenous knowledge. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Nov. 2025

Duff’s journey into music intersected with her casting as the title middle schooler in Disney’s Lizzie McGuire, which premiered in 2001. —Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025

The battle over the booze escalates into a full-on war that intersects with his enemies in both New York and the FBI. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin intersectus, past participle of intersecare, from inter- + secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for intersect

• architect
• circumspect
• deselect
• dialect
• disconnect
• disinfect
• disrespect
• incorrect
• indirect
• intellect
• interject
• pluperfect

Kids Definition

intersect

verb

in·​ter·​sect ˌint-ər-ˈsekt 

1

: to divide by passing through or across : cross

one line intersecting another

2

: to meet and cross at one or more points

overlapping circles intersect at two points