x
verb (used with object)
to cross out or mark with or as if with an x (often followed byout ).
x
1 American
[eks]
/ ɛks /
verb (used with object)
x-ed,
x'd,
x-ing,
x'ing
-
to cross out or mark with or as if with an x (often followed byout ).
to x out an error.
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to indicate choice, as on a ballot or examination (often followed byin ).
to x in the candidate of your choice.
x
2
American
x
3
American
Symbol.
-
an unknown quantity or a variable.
-
-
the letter x used to replace or obscure a gender morpheme, as to avoid the -o or -a inflection of a word borrowed from Spanish or the sequence m-e-n in the word women . See Latinx, womxn.
-
the letter x indicating a variable and used to hold a place in a word or abbreviation that can be occupied by another letter, as in CxO to account for a range of specialized executive positions in a corporation, for example CEO , CFO , and COO .
-
-
(used at the end of letters, telegrams, etc., to indicate a kiss.)
-
(used to indicate multiplication) times.
8 × 8=64.
-
(used between figures indicating dimensions) by.
3″ × 4″ (read: “three by four inches”);
3″ × 4″ × 5″ (read: “three by four by five inches”).
-
power of magnification.
a 50x telescope.
-
(used as a signature by an illiterate person.)
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cross.
-
crossed with.
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(used to indicate a particular place or point on a map or diagram).
X marks the spot where the pirates' treasure is buried.
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out of; foaled by.
a colt by Flag-a-way x Merrylegs.
-
(used to indicate choice, as on a ballot, examination, etc.)
-
(used to indicate an error or incorrect answer, as on a test.)
-
Mathematics. (in Cartesian coordinates) the x-axis.
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Chess. captures.
-
a person, thing, agency, factor, etc., of unknown identity.
I feel sorry for poor Mr. X, the man she will ultimately marry.
X
4
American
[eks]
/ ɛks /
Or
x
noun
-
X's,
plural
-
Xs,
plural
-
x's,
plural
-
xs
plural
-
the 24th letter of the English alphabet, a consonant.
-
any spoken sound or combination of sounds represented by the letter X or x, as in xylene, box, or exact.
-
something having the shape of an X .
-
a written or printed representation of the letter X or x.
-
a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter X or x.
X
5
American
abbreviation
-
experimental.
-
extra.
-
extraordinary.
X
6
American
Symbol.
-
the 24th in order or in a series.
-
(sometimes lowercase) the Roman numeral for 10.
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Christ.
-
Christian.
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cross.
-
Electricity. reactance.
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Slang. a ten-dollar bill.
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(no longer in official use by the Motion Picture Association of America) a rating for movies with subject matter that is suitable for adults only.
-
(in Great Britain) a designation for a film recommended for adults only.
-
a person, thing, agency, factor, etc., of unknown identity.
-
Chemistry. (formerly) xenon.
X
1
British
symbol
-
-
indicating a film that may not be publicly shown to anyone under 18. Since 1982 replaced by symbol 18
-
( as modifier )
an X film
-
-
denoting any unknown, unspecified, or variable factor, number, person, or thing
-
(on letters, cards, etc) denoting a kiss
-
(on ballot papers, etc) indicating choice
-
(on examination papers, etc) indicating error
-
for Christ; Christian
-
ten See Roman numerals
x
2
British
symbol
-
commerce banking finance ex
-
maths the x- axis or a coordinate measured along the x- axis in a Cartesian coordinate system
-
an algebraic variable
x
3
British
/ ɛks /
noun
-
the 24th letter and 19th consonant of the modern English alphabet
-
a speech sound sequence represented by this letter, in English pronounced as ks or gz or, in initial position, z, as in xylophone
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of x
First recorded in 1840–50
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:
It feels inevitable that I’ve started to internalize its ticks, even the most infamous ones, like incessant em-dashing and overreliance on the “It’s not x but y” structure.
From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026
Say something like, “My explanation of benefits from my insurance says I only owe x amount. Where did this bill/charge come from?”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Dermot O'Leary, who hosts a Saturday morning show on the station, wrote: "Congrats Tina, great shift x".
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
For his readers, Mr. Elwes makes this number more manageable with another tool, exponentiation: There are 107 x 1060 = 1067 monkeys.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
For the case of a dropped ball, x = gt2/2, where g is the acceleration due to gravity.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
Language on past signs at the attraction were slightly softer, Desmond said on X, noting that guests “may” be removed from the park if they refused to stay seated on the ride.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Earlier this year, Musk's firm announced that it would use its manufacturing plant in California that made Model S and X cars to produce its line of Optimus humanoid robots.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
The ruling "does not fall within the four corners of the law", Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said in a video statement shared on X by state broadcaster Radio Pakistan.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
I get emails all the time saying, “Adam, why are you even on X as a platform anymore? Wouldn’t it be morally right to get off Twitter?”
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
It was a relief to know that Child X wasn’t turning into a complete monster once and for all.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
So, before jumping into today’s news, don’t miss: a lively reader debate on Gen X’s affinity for bars and one couple’s journey renovating a ramshackle hut on the Irish coast into their dream home.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
"The approved measures will enable researchers, civil society and the general public to gain more transparency into X’s systems and the impact on users," he added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Apparently the NHL was initially unaware of this addition, and the elder Pocklington’s name was later covered with a row of X’s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
“With strong Renison mine production likely to continue and sustained high prices, we project Metals X’s cash balance will expand to A$444 million by December,” analyst Matthew Hope says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
After dinner, Malcolm X’s two friends drove him back to the hotel.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
The book also says when to try for a 2-point conversion, whether to attempt an onside kick or to kick deep and how to manage the two-minute warning—nearly everything outside of Xs and Os.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
The TikToks, Instagrams, and Xs of the world would rather nobody be worried about screen time at all, even as a few of those apps allow users to set their own limits.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2025
It is often called a violent chess match, and if you have ever seen inside a playbook and seen each play drawn up in Xs and Os fashion, you would have to agree.
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2025
“Dawn Staley knows that it takes more than Xs and Os to win games,” basketball analyst Christy Winters-Scott said.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 8, 2024
The hovercar descended onto one of the red Xs on the hospital roof, and Tally’s driver escorted her inside, taking her to a waiting room.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
But there are other cases in which scholars can only guess about the origins of x’s role, such as the phrase “X marks the spot.”
From Scientific American ● Aug. 10, 2023
The term tweets will also be changed to "x's", according to Mr Musk.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2023
Nearby in a tent, 30-ish chairs sat on spaced out yellow x’s.
From Slate ● Jan. 14, 2021
Removing the x’s from x +x 5 would be like cancelling the 2’s in the fraction 2 + 5 !
From Textbooks ● May 6, 2020
I made a sketch of the farm on my road map, and put x’s where the hickories were.
From "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
Paide the smythe for making a new clapper for the great bell, xs.
From Notes and Queries, Vol. III, Number 86, June 21, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various
Item for the Tretys of Werre in iiij. books, which conteyneth lx. levis, after ijd. a leaff xs.
From The Boke of Noblesse by Unknown
Then follow "the names of those who were served with this writt, and who most willingly obeyed upon the receipt thereof," contributing altogether xvili xs 0.
From Christmas: Its Origin and Associations Together with Its Historical Events and Festive Celebrations During Nineteen Centuries by William Francis Dawson
They imprint certain cabalistic tokens of ownership on the logs,--crosses, xs, stars, crescents, alphabetical letters,--marks respected all along the rivers and lakes down to the boom where the sticks are garnered for market.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, No. 58, August, 1862 by Various
So he said "Didn't you never correspond with a girl and put some of them xs down to the bottom of your letter?"
From The Real Dope by Ring Lardner
I self-consciously x’d out of my browser window, open to three Blythe Harris platforms.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 18, 2014
Some Tottall of the Allowances and paymentes—M,ciijviij'li. viij's. x'd.
From Notes and Queries, Number 01, November 3, 1849 by Various
I got out the chart from its case on the suit's belt, x'd the location, and went on, feeling more lonely all the time.
From Attrition by Roy G. Krenkel
As he scrolled, read, clicked, and x-ed, Tess started coming up with her own ideas on how to birdnap.
From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds
He x-ed out of Google, then sank back into the chair, his head in his hands.
From "As Brave As You" by Jason Reynolds
Acknowledging the Pentagon expulsions, Iran’s embassy in South Africa posted photos on social media Friday x-ing out portraits of several top U.S. military officials fired in recent months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2026
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.
