across
uh-KROS
Across (prep) means From one side of something to the other. Example: “She swam across the river.”
prep
1
From one side of something to the other.
"She swam across the river."
"They built a bridge across the valley."
"We walked across the field to reach the farmhouse before dark."
2
On the opposite side of.
"The bakery is across the street from the bank."
"Our new neighbours live across the road, just opposite the post office."
"There is a small cafe across the square from the library."
adv
1
From one side to the other; to the opposite side.
"The river is about a mile across."
"Once the traffic stopped, the children ran across to the other pavement."
"The lake is quite narrow, so it only takes ten minutes to row across."
How to use across
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMoving or reaching from one side of something to the other, or being positioned on the opposite side.
Common pairings
across the street
across the world
get across
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Word forms
- Plural
- acrosses
Fill the gap
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She swam _____ the river.
Etymology
From Middle English acros, originally a-croiz — "in the form of a cross" — from Anglo-Norman croiz ("cross").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “across” mean?
The word “across” means from one side of something to the other. In plain terms, moving or reaching from one side of something to the other, or being positioned on the opposite side.
How do you pronounce “across”?
“Across” is pronounced uh-KROS (/əˈkɹɒs/ in IPA).
How do you use “across” in a sentence?
Here is “across” used in a sentence: “She swam across the river.”
What part of speech is “across”?
Depending on how it is used, “across” can be a preposition and an adverb.
Where does the word “across” come from?
The word “across” comes from Middle English. From Middle English acros, originally a-croiz — "in the form of a cross" — from Anglo-Norman croiz ("cross").
Is “across” a common word?
“Across” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “across” have?
“Across” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: from one side of something to the other.
What is the difference between across and through?
Both describe movement to the other side, but 'across' means passing over a surface from one side to the other, like walking across a road. 'Through' means passing inside or amid something, like walking through a tunnel or through a crowd. Use 'across' for surfaces and 'through' for enclosed or dense spaces.
What is the difference between across and over?
They often overlap — you can walk across or over a bridge with the same meaning. The difference is emphasis: 'across' stresses going from one side to the other on a flat surface, while 'over' suggests rising above or crossing on top of something, as in climbing over a wall.
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