across

[uh-kraws, uh-kros]

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.

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

/ 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

adverb

1. from one side to the other

2. on or to the other side

Word History and Origins

Origin of across¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of across¹

C13: on croice, acros, from Old French a croix crosswise

Idioms and Phrases

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

Example Sentences

For writers across the city, L.A. can feel like shaky literary ground.

From Los Angeles Times

A Plantlife spokesperson said the project made "multiple new discoveries" of the two species in cemeteries, gardens and farmland across the two national parks.

From BBC

Israelis have gathered across the country to mark two years since the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, as negotiations continued in Egypt over an end to the war in Gaza.

From BBC

After a chilly end to September and start to October across the UK, temperatures on Monday peaked in the low twenties in Celsius in central and south-east England and north-east Scotland, above the seasonal average.

From BBC

And across the territory, more than 90% of housing units have been damaged or destroyed according to the UN.

From BBC

Related Words

• crossways 
• crosswise 
• transversely www.thesaurus.com