cross-country

American  

[kraws-kuhn-tree, kros-, kraws-kuhn-tree, -kuhn-, kros-] / ˈkrɔsˌkʌn tri, ˈkrɒs-, ˈkrɔsˈkʌn tri, -ˌkʌn-, ˈkrɒs- /

adjective

1. directed or proceeding over fields, through woods, etc., rather than on a road or path.

   a cross-country race.

2. from one end of the country to the other.

   a cross-country flight.

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noun

• cross-countries
  plural

1. a cross-country sport or race.

cross-country British  

adjective

1. by way of fields, woods, etc, as opposed to roads

   cross-country running

2. across a country

   a cross-country railway

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noun

1. a long race held over open ground

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cross-countries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cross-country

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cross-country cross-countries

A seller based in the Pacific Northwest took a virtual cross-country journey with her books after noticing more bulk orders earlier this year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Short of driving cross-country or moving to the Midwest, there is little the average Californian can do to avoid this, but the vast variation in prices holds hints about other ways to save.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

"The winters of Scotland in the cross-country are far, far worse than that," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Those cards came in handy as he planned cross-country travels to attend World Cup matches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

The next night, the town of Columbia gathered in the darkness to see Seabiscuit off on what would be the final cross-country journey of a career that spanned 50,000 railroad miles.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Then you'll be with us on the morning cross-countries again.

From The High School Left End Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football Gridiron by H. Irving (Harrie Irving) Hancock