cross-examine
Americanverb (used with object)
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cross-examines,
present (3rd person singular)
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cross-examined,
past participle, past
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cross-examining
present participle
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to examine by questions intended to check a previous examination; examine closely or minutely.
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Law. to examine (a witness called by the opposing side), as for the purpose of discrediting the witness's testimony.
verb
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law to examine (a witness for the opposing side), as in attempting to discredit his testimony Compare examine-in-chief
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to examine closely or relentlessly
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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cross-examinesimple
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cross-examinessimple
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have cross-examinedperfect
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has cross-examinedperfect
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am cross-examiningprogressive
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are cross-examiningprogressive
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is cross-examiningprogressive
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have been cross-examiningperfect progressive
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has been cross-examiningperfect progressive
Past
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cross-examinedsimple
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had cross-examinedperfect
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was cross-examiningprogressive
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were cross-examiningprogressive
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had been cross-examiningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of cross-examine
First recorded in 1655–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They said the ruling was delivered by a "faceless court" and that defence lawyers had been unable to cross-examine eyewitnesses properly, who testified via video link.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Ruemmler told the Journal that she never drafted a letter, represented Epstein or was asked to cross-examine victims.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026
They’ve got one cooperator, but you can cross-examine the cooperator, who’s cooperating in hopes of a more lenient sentence.
From Slate ● Jan. 7, 2026
But Graham’s defense attorney never got a chance to cross-examine Prow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2025
Nels Gudmundsson now tottered to his feet in order to cross-examine Sterling Whitman.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
A climactic scene between these two actors in which Jackson cross-examines Göring is a riveting piece of courtroom drama.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025
Todd Blanche cross-examines Michael Cohen on the stand trying to paint him as a liar.
From BBC ● May 16, 2024
Giuliani said at the lectern, doing a terrible Joe Pesci, from the scene where he cross-examines an elderly eyewitness with bad eyesight.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 19, 2020
When I think about Harris, I remember her performance at Senate hearings: the way she challenges people, cross-examines them, and handles herself in a room.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 9, 2020
It may be that counsel rises and cross-examines, if there are witnesses for the defence.
From Dr. Sevier by George Washington Cable
Garcia joined Fields in the back row, watching as Steel cross-examined Kacey Hester, also known as OTF Jam, one of the admitted shooters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Victims are often cross-examined during the lengthy legal proceedings, which frequently deepens their sense of guilt, Tsang noted.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
The woman, known as Complainant B, was being cross-examined by Sir Jeffrey's lawyer when she said she blamed herself for the subsequent alleged abuse of the other complainant in the case.
From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026
He cross-examined an engineer for the company who said Sleca possessed photos of the grid damage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026
His evidence-in-chief lasted several days and he was cross-examined for nearly three weeks.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Ian Turkington KC represented Eleanor Donaldson during her trial of the facts, cross-examining witnesses and issuing closing remarks on behalf of his client towards the end of the trial.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
With this rule in place, and with prosecutors thirsty to invoke it, the first part of every excessive punishment analysis turns into Tom Cruise cross-examining Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men: Q: “Grave Danger?”
From Slate ● Dec. 29, 2025
Mayers’ defense attorney Joe Tacopina — who is likely to begin cross-examining Ephron on Thursday — has said the weapon was a “prop gun” that only fired blanks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2025
He began to embrace the thrill of cross-examining visiting missionaries.
From New York Times ● Jan. 21, 2024
It’s like he was cross-examining my subconscious, looking for some clue he might have missed the ninety-ninth time around.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
