A family walks across a bridge.
- The definition of across is on the other side or from the other side.
To walk over a bridge is an example of to walk across.
- Across is defined as from one side to the other.
Houses on opposite sides of the street is an example of across.
across
- so as to cross; crosswise
- from one side to the other
- on or to the other side
Origin of across
Middle English acros from a-, on, in + cros, cross, after Anglo-French an croix- from one side to the other of, or so as to cross
- on or to the other side of; over; through
- see come across (phrase under come) and run across (phrase under run)
across
preposition
- On, at, or from the other side of: across the street.
- So as to cross; through: drew lines across the paper.
- From one side of to the other: a bridge across a river.
- Into contact with: came across my old roommate.
adverb
- From one side to the other: The footbridge swayed when I ran across.
- On or to the opposite side: We came across by ferry.
- Crosswise; crossed.
- In such a manner as to be comprehensible, acceptable, or successful: put our idea across; get a message across.
adjective
Being in a crossed position: seated with arms across.
Origin of across
Middle English acrois from Anglo-Norman an croiz an in ( from Latin in ; see in- 2. ) croiz cross ( from Latin crux ; see cross . )across
Preposition
- To, toward, or from the far side of (something that lies between two points of interest).
- We rowed across the river.
- Fortunately, there was a bridge across the river.
- He came across the street to meet me.
- On the opposite side of (something that lies between two points of interest).
- That store is across the street.
- (Southern US, African American Vernacular) On the opposite side, relative to something that lies between, from (a point of interest).
- From one side to the other within (a space being traversed).
- The meteor streaked across the sky.
- He walked across the room.
- Could you slide that across the table to me, please?
- At or near the far end of (a space).
- Spanning.
- This poetry speaks across the centuries.
- Throughout.
- All across the country, voters were communicating their representatives.
- So as to intersect or pass through or over at an angle.
- Lay the top stick across the bottom one.
- She had straps fastened across the conduit every six feet.
Adverb
(not comparable)
- From one side to the other.
- she helped the blind man across; the river is half a mile across
- On the other side.
- If we sail off at noon, when will we be across?
- In a particular direction.
- He leaned across for a book.
- (crosswords) Horizontally.
- I got stuck on 4 across.
Noun
(plural acrosses)
- (crosswords) A clue whose solution runs horizontally in the grid.
- I solved all of the acrosses, but then got stuck on 3 down.
Origin
Middle English acros, from a-croiz, from Anglo-Norman an (“on”) + Old French croiz (“in the form of a cross”), from Latin crux
