cross-examine Hear it!

cross-examine Definition

cross·-examine (krôs′ig zam′in)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·ined, -·in′ing

  1. to question closely
  2. Law to question (a witness produced by the opposing side) as in order to challenge the truthfulness of previous testimony

cross-examine Related Forms

cross′·-exam′ina′tion (-ə nā′s̸hən) noun cross′·-exam′iner noun

cross-examine Synonyms

cross-examine

v.

investigate, question closely, interrogate, grill*; see examine 2, question 1.

cross-examine Usage Examples

Object

  • witness: Mr Davies, for the defense, then cross-examined the witness.
  • defendant: The prosecution in Acott were vigorously cross-examining the defendant in an effort to adduce evidence of provocation.
  • officer: My partner who attended before the council endeavored to cross-examine the police officer on some of the statistics produced and the opinion she gave.
  • counsel: An evidential basis does not include mere suggestions by cross-examining counsel... .
  • respondent: You will have an opportunity to cross-examine the respondent 's witnesses at the hearing.
  • child: Will a very capable barrister be allowed to cross-examine a child?

Subject

  • prosecution: And when cross-examined by the prosecution, he appeared unsure of himself.
  • lawyer: He was being cross-examined by a defense lawyer during a trial.
  • party: Such an expert may be cross-examined by any party.
  • prosecutor: If you do so, you will be cross-examined by the prosecutor.

Modifying Another Word

  • then: Mr Davies, for the defense, then cross-examined the witness.
  • not: DS Wharton was not cross-examined on the lack of photographs or diagrams showing the finding of the fingerprints on the van.

Preposition: at

  • length: She was cross-examined at considerable length by Mr Patel on her evidence.
  • hearing: The man, known as Mr Doe to protect his child's identity, was being cross-examined at a pre-trial hearing.

Preposition: in

court: Hearsay evidence cannot in practice be cross-examined in court, which removes a vital safeguard for the accused.

Preposition: by

  • prosecution: And when cross-examined by the prosecution, he appeared unsure of himself.
  • lawyer: He was being cross-examined by a defense lawyer during a trial.
  • party: Such an expert may be cross-examined by any party.
  • prosecutor: If you do so, you will be cross-examined by the prosecutor.