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
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 Web
Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
But the underlying theme across all generations is the need for a family office that can evolve with scale, complexity, and strategic clarity.
—Paul Westall, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 July 2025
The water-free, no-rinse stick creates a slippery barrier on the skin so that your razor can smoothly glide across, leaving skin smooth and hydrated with sea moss, hyaluronic acid and ginger root oil.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Sam Sabin, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for across
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Preposition
Wednesday's incident came amid a 700% increase in assaults against immigration and other federal agents carrying out operations across the country.
—Louis Casiano , Brooke Taylor, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
But the underlying theme across all generations is the need for a family office that can evolve with scale, complexity, and strategic clarity.
—Paul Westall, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Adverb
Receptive to the danger, Gibbs-White shuttles across, showing pace and defensive tenacity to make a strong tackle on Hutchinson, before instantly looking to play forward with an ambitious outside-of-the-boot pass in frame two.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 11 July 2025
The water-free, no-rinse stick creates a slippery barrier on the skin so that your razor can smoothly glide across, leaving skin smooth and hydrated with sea moss, hyaluronic acid and ginger root oil.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
Good information sharing can help retailers figure out what website domains or IP addresses to block, since threat actors are often reusing these across attacks, Clark added.
—Sam Sabin, Axios, 26 Nov. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for across
Cite this Entry
“Across.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/across. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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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