across

American  

[uh-kraws, uh-kros] / əˈkrɔs, əˈkrɒs /

preposition

1. from one side to the other of.

   a bridge across a river.

2. on or to the other side of; beyond.

   across the sea.

3. into contact with; into the presence of, usually by accident.

   to come across an old friend; to run across a first edition of Byron.

4. crosswise of or transversely to the length of something; athwart.

   coats across the bed; straddled across the boundary line.

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adverb

1. from one side to another.

2. on the other side.

   We'll soon be across.

3. crosswise; transversely.

   with arms across.

4. so as to be understood or learned.

   He couldn't get the idea across to the class.

5. into a desired or successful state.

   to put a business deal across.

adjective

1. being in a crossed or transverse position; crosswise.

   an across pattern of supporting beams.

across British  

/ əˈkrɒs /

preposition

1. from one side to the other side of

2. on or at the other side of

3. so as to transcend boundaries or barriers

   people united across borders by religion and history

   the study of linguistics across cultures

4. fully informed about; dealing with

   we are across this problem

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adverb

1. from one side to the other

2. on or to the other side

across Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing across

• come across
• cut across
• get across
• put across
• run across

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Etymology

Origin of across

First recorded in 1470–80; a- ¹ + cross

Example Sentences

The European Commission said Thursday that its Economic Sentiment Indicator, which measures attitudes of businesses across multiple sectors of the economy, inched down to 96.7 in the month, compared with 97.1 in November.

From The Wall Street Journal

With this change, Zalando Group logistics network will comprise 14 fulfillment centers across seven countries, it added.

From The Wall Street Journal

The licensing restrictions extend across Japanese industry, the people said, and don’t only target Japanese defense companies.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Big Idea at the bottom of it is novel enough, but even though it has real-world precedents, it does inch across the line between clever and goofy.

From Los Angeles Times

I parked across the street from where our house had stood in one form or another for 80 years.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crossways
• crosswise
• transversely