ə-ˈkrȯs 
chiefly dialectal -ˈkrȯst
1
2
: so as to intersect or pass through at an angle
sawed across the grain of the wood
3
: so as to find or meet
Researchers have come across important new evidence.
4
a
: throughout
… obvious interest across the nation.—
Robert Goralski
Robert Goralski
b
: so as to include or take into consideration all classes or categories
1
: in a position reaching from one side to the other : crosswise
cut the potato across into thin slices
2
: to or on the opposite side
The stream was small enough to jump across.
3
: so as to be understandable, acceptable, or successful
trying to get an argument across
: being in a crossed position
stood with her arms across
Synonyms
Examples of across in a Sentence
Preposition
We took a ferry across the river.
We saw them walking across the street.
She reached across the table to shake his hand.
They traveled back and forth across the border.
Airplanes flew across the sky above us.
He was seated across the table from me.
The accident happened just across the state line.
A smile spread across her face.
Looking out across the ocean, he saw land.
The sun's light spread across the mountains.
Adverb
The streams are small enough to jump across.
They walked across to the other side of the street.
They reached across and shook each other's hand.
At its widest point, the pond measures 150 feet across.
I saw them crossing the street and I waited until they were safely across.
Recent Examples on the WebDavid Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
Episodes showing Turner dating a pool of 22 women, inspiring viewing parties at retirement homes and senior centers across the nation.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Silva's video went viral and received massive support from many across social media and in her own community.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024
So far this year, Democrats have managed to get seven bills across the finish line — less than 4% of all bills passed.
—Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 12 Apr. 2024
This road car with racetrack roots emerged as a shot across the bow of Jaguar after its comely E-type was unveiled at the 1961 Geneva Motor show.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
Fortunately, solar eclipse glasses are still readily available from plenty of vendors across the internet.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Then, in a briefly confounding sequence that gave the Cardinals the lead, Victor Scott II hit a seemingly routine lineout to left — only for third base umpire Ryan Blakney to call Kelly for a balk that negated the out, and forced the go-ahead run across the plate.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
The developer promises a 30-foot vegetative buffer along Alcove Road and a pedestrian connection across a realigned Fairview Road.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2024
Ben Church, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The bridge is about 1.9 miles across and almost 52 feet wide.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2024
The anvil heads nestle together to form a kind of secondary surface above the skin that fluid can flow across.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
The path sweeps across southwestern Texas at the Mexican border, at Eagle Pass and Del Rio, then runs through Texas Hill Country and central Texas on its way to Dallas Fort Worth and North Central Texas, before exiting into Oklahoma and Arkansas.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
As Eden gabs, the pair inch across and climb over rows in search of maximum comfort and no moisture.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
Currently, the Thwaites Glacier alone — at 80 miles across, the world's widest glacier — is raising sea level globally by about 1.5 inches per decade.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024
The misshapen Phobos measures roughly 17 by 14 by 11 miles across.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
Matthew's got a very interesting way of getting his point across.
—Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 27 Aug. 2023
This is a hairstyle that was actually made for thinner, straight hair like Hailey’s, as the even-across cut keeps the hair from looking thinner and the straight hair looks sleek and simple.
—Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2023
In some models, the center console can be flipped back to create a jump seat between the driver and passenger, similar to a three-across bench in some full-size pickup trucks.
—Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 20 Jan. 2023
Most wooden stools are deemed uncomfortable due to their flat seat and straight-across backrest, but this stool puts comfort first with a slight curve in the seat and backrest.
—Addie Morton, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2023
Since the early days of the shale revolution more than a decade ago, fracking operators have relied on mined sand that’s delivered to their sites by truck - across distances as long as 100 miles.
—Dallas News, 10 July 2022
According to astronomers who captured this image, the comet's tail was several times longer at this point than Earth is across.
—Erika K. Carlson, Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2019
This is the kind of self-deprecation Stokes is notorious for — a defining feature, as much or more so than her slick, straight-across bangs that evoke Reality Bites-era Janeane Garofalo.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2022
The narrative quickly shatters, moving backwards and forwards across generations—spanning multiple family tragedies, all involving the fjord and the house that Signe still lives in.
—Alex Shephard, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2022
Preposition
There would be $18.5 million in additional savings across several departments created primarily by a citywide hiring freeze, elimination of some training programs, delaying purchase of some supplies and making administrative changes.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
Episodes showing Turner dating a pool of 22 women, inspiring viewing parties at retirement homes and senior centers across the nation.
—Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Silva's video went viral and received massive support from many across social media and in her own community.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 12 Apr. 2024
So far this year, Democrats have managed to get seven bills across the finish line — less than 4% of all bills passed.
—Rebecca Grapevine, The Courier-Journal, 12 Apr. 2024
This road car with racetrack roots emerged as a shot across the bow of Jaguar after its comely E-type was unveiled at the 1961 Geneva Motor show.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
Fortunately, solar eclipse glasses are still readily available from plenty of vendors across the internet.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Then, in a briefly confounding sequence that gave the Cardinals the lead, Victor Scott II hit a seemingly routine lineout to left — only for third base umpire Ryan Blakney to call Kelly for a balk that negated the out, and forced the go-ahead run across the plate.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
The developer promises a 30-foot vegetative buffer along Alcove Road and a pedestrian connection across a realigned Fairview Road.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2024
Adverb
The Ukrainian shot-stopper tried to get back across to stop the effort and perhaps should have done better.
—Ben Church, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
The bridge is about 1.9 miles across and almost 52 feet wide.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 29 Mar. 2024
The anvil heads nestle together to form a kind of secondary surface above the skin that fluid can flow across.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024
The path sweeps across southwestern Texas at the Mexican border, at Eagle Pass and Del Rio, then runs through Texas Hill Country and central Texas on its way to Dallas Fort Worth and North Central Texas, before exiting into Oklahoma and Arkansas.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
As Eden gabs, the pair inch across and climb over rows in search of maximum comfort and no moisture.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
Currently, the Thwaites Glacier alone — at 80 miles across, the world's widest glacier — is raising sea level globally by about 1.5 inches per decade.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024
The misshapen Phobos measures roughly 17 by 14 by 11 miles across.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024
Matthew's got a very interesting way of getting his point across.
—Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024
Adjective
From former Housewives including Dorinda Medley and Sonja Morgan, to Shanna Moakler and Jordyn Woods, stars from across industries have dabbled on the adult-only site.
—Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 27 Aug. 2023
This is a hairstyle that was actually made for thinner, straight hair like Hailey’s, as the even-across cut keeps the hair from looking thinner and the straight hair looks sleek and simple.
—Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2023
In some models, the center console can be flipped back to create a jump seat between the driver and passenger, similar to a three-across bench in some full-size pickup trucks.
—Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 20 Jan. 2023
Most wooden stools are deemed uncomfortable due to their flat seat and straight-across backrest, but this stool puts comfort first with a slight curve in the seat and backrest.
—Addie Morton, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2023
Since the early days of the shale revolution more than a decade ago, fracking operators have relied on mined sand that’s delivered to their sites by truck - across distances as long as 100 miles.
—Dallas News, 10 July 2022
According to astronomers who captured this image, the comet's tail was several times longer at this point than Earth is across.
—Erika K. Carlson, Discover Magazine, 11 Dec. 2019
This is the kind of self-deprecation Stokes is notorious for — a defining feature, as much or more so than her slick, straight-across bangs that evoke Reality Bites-era Janeane Garofalo.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2022
The narrative quickly shatters, moving backwards and forwards across generations—spanning multiple family tragedies, all involving the fjord and the house that Signe still lives in.
—Alex Shephard, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'across.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near across
Cite this Entry
“Across.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/across. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
across
1 of 2 adverb1
: from one side to the other
boards sawed directly across
2
: to or on the opposite side
got across in a boat
3
: so as to be understandable or successful
get the message across
across
2 of 2 preposition1
: to or on the opposite side of
across the street
2
: so as to cross or pass at an angle
lay one stick across another
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