crossroads

British  

/ ˈkrɒsˌrəʊdz /

noun

1. an area or the point at which two or more roads cross each other

2. the point at which an important choice has to be made (esp in the phrase at the crossroads )

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Explanation

The noun crossroads is great for describing a point in your life when you have to make an important decision, like when you need to choose whether to attend college or backpack across Asia. Though a literal definition of crossroads might be something like "the point where two roads meet," it is more often used in a figurative way, to mean a situation that requires some important choice must be made. The word crossroads has been used to title dozens of songs and albums over the years, and it's known in folk mythology as an otherworldly place — between two worlds — where spirits tend to congregate.

Example Sentences

The authors find that “each fifty-year marker on America’s 250-year journey since 1776 has found our country at a crossroads of some sort.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

You wouldn't see such gesticulation from a posse of policemen directing traffic at a busy crossroads.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

It takes place in Yerevan, a crossroads between Russia and the Middle East -- the two main issues on the agenda.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

At a market crossroads, what prices can’t do are often just as important for direction, if not more so, than what they can do.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

Papa Legba, the one who stands at the center of all crossroads and in front of all doors, will make it so.

From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi