across the board

1 of 2

phrase

Synonyms of across the boardnext
: so as to include or affect all classes or categories
cut spending across the board
also : in all areas or respects
considered an average player across the board

across-the-board

2 of 2

adjective

1
: placed to win if a competitor wins, places, or shows
an across-the-board racing bet
2
: embracing or affecting all classes or categories : blanket
an across-the-board price increase

Examples of across the board in a Sentence

Adjective an across-the-board reduction in the state's budget because of declining revenues
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The backup center had his finest across-the-board showing as a Bruin, finishing with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 23 minutes. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026 That’s the result of across-the-board improvement in terms of scoring chances from the first two months. Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026 Season saw across-the-board gains in every broadcast window and for all rights-holding networks and streaming services. Greg Cote january 8, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026 The across-the-board rally on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time this year was long forgotten. Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for across the board

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1945, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of across the board was in 1945

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Across the board.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/across%20the%20board. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on across the board

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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