cross
cross — verb
1. to travel to the opposite side of a road, bridge, or open space
to travel to the opposite side of a road, bridge, or open space
Yael crossed the street to get to the bakery.
cross + noun phrase as direct object
The old stone bridge crosses the river at its narrowest point.
inanimate subject (bridge, road, line)
Omar carefully crossed the busy road at the pedestrian lights.
Hikers crossed the mountain pass just before the snow arrived.
The new railway line crosses the whole country from east to west.
cross + spatial extent (from ... to ...)
- cross the street
- cross the road
- cross the border
- cross a bridge
- cross a river
Grammar Patterns
cross + noun phrase as object
cross + adverb (over, across)
Usage Note
With a direct object, no preposition is needed: say 'cross the road' not 'cross over the road'. For the intransitive form, use 'across' or 'over' after the verb: 'They crossed over the bridge.'
Common Mistakes
2. if a thought or idea suddenly enters your mind, especially briefly and unexpecte
if a thought or idea suddenly enters your mind, especially briefly and unexpectedly
It never crossed Pim's mind to check the train schedule before leaving.
it + never + crosses + possessive + mind + to-infinitive
The thought of moving abroad crossed Anjali's mind several times last year.
thought/idea as subject
Has it ever crossed your mind that she might have been telling the truth?
question form: has it crossed your mind that...
A strange idea crossed Christopher's mind as he watched the storm.
- it crosses my mind
- never crossed my mind
- crossed her mind that
- occur to
slightly more formal; 'it occurred to me that...'
- come to mind
less sudden; can be used for general recall
Grammar Patterns
something crosses someone's mind
it crosses someone's mind that...
it never crossed someone's mind to...
Usage Note
The subject of this expression is always an idea, thought, or 'it'. The person who has the thought is the object of the prepositional possessive: 'cross my mind', 'cross your mind', 'cross her mind'. Cannot be used in the passive voice.
Common Mistakes
3. to place one arm, leg, or finger over the other, usually so that they form an X
to place one arm, leg, or finger over the other, usually so that they form an X shape
Kwame crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair.
cross + body part (legs)
The teacher crossed her arms and waited for the class to quiet down.
cross + arms (often signals impatience)
For good luck, Eri crossed her fingers before the exam results were announced.
cross + fingers (superstitious gesture)
Élise sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, reading a novel.
participial: with + body part + crossed
Hugo crossed his ankles while lying on the picnic blanket.
- cross one's arms
- cross one's legs
- cross one's fingers
- arms crossed
- legs crossed
- fold
only for arms, not for legs or fingers; 'she folded her arms'
Grammar Patterns
cross + body part (arms, legs, fingers, ankles)
Usage Note
The direct object is typically a limb or finger belonging to the subject. Often used reflexively: the body part belongs to the person doing the crossing. Common in descriptions of posture ('arms crossed', 'legs crossed').
Common Mistakes
4. to make someone angry or upset by opposing their wishes, plans, or actions
to make someone angry or upset by opposing their wishes, plans, or actions
Isabela did not want to cross her grandmother by refusing the homemade gift.
negative: don't want to cross someone
My brother crossed me by inviting people I did not like to the party.
cross + someone + by + gerund phrase
The young politician was careful not to cross the powerful union leaders.
be careful not to cross someone
If you cross Alessia, she will not speak to you for days.
- don't cross me
- cross someone
- be crossed
- cross one's parents
- oppose
less emotional; focuses on disagreement rather than anger
- defy
stronger, suggests open resistance to authority
- antagonize
more formal; emphasizes making someone hostile
- please
opposite effect — making someone happy by agreeing
Grammar Patterns
cross + someone
cross + someone + by + -ing phrase
Usage Note
The subject is a person whose action goes against someone else's wishes. The object is the person who is upset by this opposition. Often used in warnings and negative constructions ('don't cross me', 'be careful not to cross him').
Common Mistakes
5. to breed two separate kinds of plants or animals together so that they produce a
to breed two separate kinds of plants or animals together so that they produce a new combined variety
Scientists crossed a lion with a tiger to produce a liger.
cross + A + with + B
The gardener crossed two types of roses to create a brighter red flower.
cross + noun phrase + to-infinitive (purpose)
Jabari crossed a red tulip with a yellow one to grow an orange bloom.
Farmers sometimes cross different breeds of cattle to improve milk production.
passive possible: be crossed with
- cross A with B
- cross breeds
- cross varieties
- cross species
- hybridize
more technical; mainly scientific contexts
- interbreed
for animals; implies natural rather than human-controlled breeding
Grammar Patterns
cross + noun + with + noun
Usage Note
Frequently used in the pattern 'cross A with B' to specify the two parents of the hybrid. Common in both agriculture and scientific contexts. Can also be used intransitively in the passive: 'The two varieties were crossed.'
Common Mistakes
6. in soccer, rugby, ice hockey, and similar sports, to send a ball sideways from o
in soccer, rugby, ice hockey, and similar sports, to send a ball sideways from one side of the field to a teammate
The midfielder crossed the ball into the penalty area from the right wing.
cross + ball + into + location
The winger crossed the ball low and fast toward the far post.
The defender crossed the puck to her teammate in front of the goal.
cross + puck + to + someone (hockey)
The striker crossed from the left and the forward headed it into the net.
intransitive: cross from [position]
- cross the ball
- cross from the wing
- cross into the box
- low cross
- high cross
- center
North American equivalent in soccer; 'to center the ball'
Grammar Patterns
cross + the ball/puck + to + someone
cross + the ball + into + location
Usage Note
In soccer and hockey, a cross is a sideways pass aimed toward the goal area, distinct from a forward pass or backward pass. The term is most common in British English sports commentary; American English may use 'center the ball' in soccer.
Common Mistakes
7. to mark a cheque with two parallel lines so that the money is sent straight to t
to mark a cheque with two parallel lines so that the money is sent straight to the receiver's account through a bank, which makes the payment more secure than cashing it directly.
Mathieu crossed the cheque before posting it to his supplier in Manchester.
cross + (the) cheque — UK banking practice
Banks in the UK will not cash a crossed cheque over the counter.
passive: crossed cheque as a noun phrase
Make sure you cross every cheque you send through the post.
The accountant told Ezra to cross the company cheque for added security.
- cross a cheque
- crossed cheque
Grammar Patterns
cross + noun phrase (cheque)
Usage Note
Only used for physical cheques (UK spelling). This is a standard banking-security practice in the UK and some other Commonwealth countries.
Common Mistakes
8. to make the Christian symbol of a cross by moving your hand from your forehead d
to make the Christian symbol of a cross by moving your hand from your forehead down to your chest and then across to each shoulder, as a religious act of prayer or respect.
As the church bells began to ring, Mira crossed herself and started to pray.
cross + reflexive pronoun (herself)
The old woman crossed herself slowly before stepping into the chapel.
Catholics and some other Christians cross themselves when they enter a church.
Subject: religious group; reflexive: themselves
Lan crossed herself quietly as she listened to the priest's blessing.
Dario watched his grandmother cross herself before every family meal.
- cross oneself
- cross herself/himself/myself/yourself
- make the sign of the cross
a fuller expression, more formal or descriptive in tone
Grammar Patterns
cross + reflexive pronoun
Usage Note
Always used with a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, herself, etc.). Not used for other hand gestures or non-religious movements.
Common Mistakes
9. If two roads, lines, or paths cross, they go over or across each other at a part
If two roads, lines, or paths cross, they go over or across each other at a particular point, forming a shared meeting place.
The two main roads cross just north of the old market square.
two things + cross + (at/near + place)
Draw two straight lines that cross at the centre of the page.
The hiking trails cross near the wooden bridge behind the lake.
Where the railway tracks cross, the trains must slow down for safety.
Gabriela noticed where the two garden paths crossed in the park.
- roads cross
- lines cross
- paths cross
- cross at
- cross near
- run parallel
when two lines or roads stay the same distance apart and never meet
Grammar Patterns
two things + cross + (at/near + place)
Usage Note
Typically intransitive, with the two intersecting things as the subject. For the transitive use (e.g. 'the road crosses the river'), see sense 1 in the verb entry.
Common Mistakes
10. to put a line or a mark such as an X through a written word or item, removing it
to put a line or a mark such as an X through a written word or item, removing it, cancelling it, or showing that it has been finished.
Sahil crossed out the wrong answer and wrote the correct one beside it.
cross + out — cancelling written text
Please cross off the items that have already been delivered to the warehouse.
cross + off — removing from a list
The teacher crossed the spelling mistakes using a red pen.
Christopher crossed the old address on the envelope and wrote a new one.
Before you submit the form, cross any options that do not apply to you.
- cross out
- cross off
- cross through
- cross a word
- cross an item
- delete
more general; can refer to removing digital or written content
- strike through
more formal; often used in editing or legal contexts
- cancel
broader meaning that includes non-written items like bookings
Grammar Patterns
cross + noun phrase + out/off/through
Usage Note
Often used with the particle 'out' (cross out a mistake) or 'off' (cross off a list item). The meaning shifts slightly: 'out' focuses on deletion, while 'off' focuses on removal from a checklist.
Common Mistakes
11. to encounter and go by another person, especially unexpectedly or without having
to encounter and go by another person, especially unexpectedly or without having made a plan to meet.
Ziad and Soraya first crossed paths at a conference in Tokyo.
cross paths with + someone — chance encounter
Our paths crossed again years later at a small bookshop in Lisbon.
paths cross — alternative word order
Our families first crossed paths at a charity event in Tokyo.
cross paths (with) — chance encounter between people
Indra never expected their paths to cross again after college graduation.
Yuki and her former teacher crossed paths at a museum exhibition last Saturday.
cross paths — unexpected meeting of two people
- cross paths with
- paths cross
- cross somebody's path
- meet (by chance)
simpler and more common; 'cross paths' adds a sense of unexpectedness
- encounter
more formal; can be planned or unplanned
- run into
informal; for unexpected meetings with people
Grammar Patterns
paths cross
cross paths with + someone
Usage Note
Most common in the fixed expressions 'cross paths' and 'paths cross'. When used without these set phrases, the meaning is literal physical passing rather than a chance meeting.
Common Mistakes
cross off
phrasal verbTo remove something from a list by drawing a line through it.
I crossed off the items I already bought from the shopping list.
Cross off each task as you complete it.
cross out
phrasal verbTo draw a line through written words to show they are wrong or not needed.
The teacher crossed out the misspelled word and wrote the correct one.
Please cross out the incorrect answer and write the right one.
cross over
phrasal verbTo go from one side or area to another, often changing categories or genres.
The singer crossed over from country to pop music.
Many animals cross over the bridge to reach the forest.
cross through
phrasal verbTo draw a line through something written to delete or cancel it.
He crossed through the old address and wrote the new one.
Cross through any mistakes with a single line.
cross a/the line
idiomTo do something that is not acceptable or goes beyond what is considered proper.
Maya crossed the line when she insulted her boss in public.
Did Brian cross the line by telling that joke at the meeting?
cross your fingers
idiomTo hope that something will happen in the way you want.
Sara is crossing her fingers for good weather on her wedding day.
Keep your fingers crossed that the train arrives on time.
Used to emphasize that you are telling the truth or will keep a promise.
I didn't take your book, cross my heart.
Cross my heart, I will finish the project by Friday.
cross your mind
idiomTo come into your thoughts suddenly.
It never crossed my mind that she might be lying.
Has it ever crossed your mind to study abroad?
To give money to someone, especially to pay for a service like fortune-telling.
The fortune teller asked me to cross her palm with silver.
Diego crossed the old woman's palm with silver to hear his future.
To meet someone by chance.
I hope I never cross his path again after that argument.
Our paths crossed again years later at a conference in Paris.
To argue or fight with someone.
The two politicians crossed swords over the new tax law.
Aiden crossed swords with his neighbor about the fence.
To deal with a problem only when it actually happens, not before.
Don't worry about the exam now; we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Maya decided to cross that bridge when she came to it.
To pay careful attention to every small detail when completing a task.
Before submitting the report, dot your i's and cross your t's.
Sara always dots her i's and crosses her t's in her work.
To misunderstand what someone has said, leading to confusion.
We got our wires crossed about the meeting time.
Did you get your wires crossed? I thought you said Tuesday.
cross — noun
1. A mark made by drawing one line across another, shaped like an X or a +. People
A mark made by drawing one line across another, shaped like an X or a +. People commonly use an X to point to a place on a map or to show that an answer on a test is wrong.
Put a cross next to the wrong answer on your test paper.
collocation: put a cross next to [something]
Lan drew a red cross on the map to show where her house was.
The teacher wrote a cross beside every wrong answer on the exam.
collocation: write a cross beside [something]
Vivek made a small cross on the calendar to mark his birthday.
Sari placed a cross at the spot where the treasure was buried.
collocation: place a cross at [a location]
- put a cross
- draw a cross
- mark with a cross
- tick
a check mark (✓) that shows an answer is correct
Usage Note
Countable. The X-shaped mark is the most common form; the +-shaped mark is rarer and often indicates a location on a map.
Common Mistakes
2. A frame used for executions in the ancient world, made by fixing two beams toget
A frame used for executions in the ancient world, made by fixing two beams together at right angles. Prisoners were tied or nailed to this structure and left in place until they died.
In ancient Rome, soldiers nailed criminals to a wooden cross as a punishment.
passive: nailed to a cross as punishment
Baraka read that thousands of people died on crosses during the Roman Empire.
The museum displayed a full-size cross like those used two thousand years ago.
Historians agree the cross was a common execution method across the ancient world.
collocation: the cross was a [adjective] execution [noun]
- die on a cross
- nailed to a cross
- sentenced to the cross
Usage Note
Countable. This sense refers strictly to the physical execution device used in antiquity. Do not confuse with sense 3 (the Christian religious symbol), though the two are historically related.
3. The cross-shaped frame on which Jesus Christ was put to death, now used as the c
The cross-shaped frame on which Jesus Christ was put to death, now used as the central symbol of the Christian religion. It represents sacrifice, faith, and the core beliefs of Christianity.
Élise wears a small gold cross around her neck as a sign of her faith.
collocation: wear a cross around the neck
The church has a large stone cross above its main entrance.
Christopher gave his daughter a silver cross for her first communion.
Many Christians make the sign of the cross when they enter a church to pray.
phrase: make the sign of the cross
A wooden cross stands at the front of the small village church.
- sign of the cross
- wear a cross
- the Holy Cross
- crucifix
a cross with a statue of Jesus on it, more specific than a plain cross
Usage Note
Countable. Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the crucifixion ('the Cross'). This sense is distinct from sense 2 (the ancient execution device) because it carries religious meaning.
Common Mistakes
4. A metal award shaped like a cross, given to someone as an honour for bravery, mi
A metal award shaped like a cross, given to someone as an honour for bravery, military service, or notable achievement.
The soldier received a cross for bravery during the battle.
collocation: receive a cross for bravery
Tunde's grandfather was awarded a military cross for saving wounded comrades.
The queen pinned a gold cross onto the nurse's uniform as an award.
collocation: pin a cross onto [uniform]
A framed photo showed the pilot wearing a cross he earned in the war.
- win a cross
- award a cross
- Victoria Cross
- medal
a general term for any award; a cross is a specific type of medal in this shape
- decoration
formal term for an honour awarded for service
Usage Note
Countable. This sense names the physical decoration itself, not the shape. Common in military and royal honour systems (e.g. Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Cross). Often capitalised in official titles.
5. An animal or plant produced by breeding two distinct parent types together, ofte
An animal or plant produced by breeding two distinct parent types together, often having features of both. The term is common in farming and gardening when new varieties are created.
This flower is a cross between a red rose and a wild bush.
pattern: a cross between [A] and [B]
The farmer developed a new cross of corn that grows well in dry soil.
A mule is a cross between a male donkey and a female horse.
pattern: a cross between [A] and [B]
Gardeners created this cross by mixing two types of apple trees.
Anjali's dog is a cross between a poodle and a Labrador retriever.
- a cross between
- create a cross
- produce a cross
- pure breed
an animal or plant whose parents are of the same variety
Usage Note
Countable. Almost always followed by 'between' when specifying the two parent types: 'a cross between X and Y'. This sense is distinct from verb sense MIX (verb/5), which refers to the action of breeding, not the resulting organism.
Common Mistakes
6. In football and similar team sports, a sideways kick or pass that sends the ball
In football and similar team sports, a sideways kick or pass that sends the ball from one edge of the pitch toward the middle or the far edge. These passes are typically aimed at a teammate who can try to score.
Liam sent a perfect cross from the left wing to the front of the goal.
collocation: send a cross from [position]
The midfielder's cross reached the striker at the far post.
Lucía practised kicking crosses into the penalty area every afternoon.
collocation: kick a cross into [area]
The defender blocked the cross before it could reach the attacker.
Coaches teach players to aim their crosses between the keeper and the defence.
collocation: aim a cross between [X] and [Y]
- send a cross
- deliver a cross
- meet a cross
- centre
more common in American English for the same type of pass
Usage Note
Countable. Common in British football commentary and coaching. The verb sense (verb/6 IN SPORT) refers to the action of making this pass; the noun sense refers to the pass itself.
a cross to bear
idiomA difficult problem or responsibility that someone has to deal with over a long period of time, often with patience.
Layla says caring for her sick mother is a heavy cross to bear.
The team's poor performance all season was a cross that the coach had to bear alone.
cross — adjective
1. feeling upset or bad-tempered for a short time, especially when something small
feeling upset or bad-tempered for a short time, especially when something small goes wrong
Mum was cross with Eli for not cleaning his room before dinner.
cross with + person + for + reason
The teacher looked cross when she saw the messy drawings on the wall.
Naoko felt a bit cross about having to wait for the bus in the rain.
cross about + situation/event
Don't be cross — I did not mean to break your favourite mug.
imperative form in apology
Salma was still cross with herself for forgetting her friend's birthday.
cross with + oneself for + reason
- cross with (someone)
- cross about (something)
- a bit cross
- rather cross
- very cross
- feel cross
- look cross
- get cross
Grammar Patterns
be/feel/look/seem + cross
cross + with + person
cross + about + thing/situation
Usage Note
Common in informal British English. Unlike 'angry', which can go before a noun (an angry customer), 'cross' is almost always used after a linking verb.
Common Mistakes
cross — prefix
1. attached to the beginning of nouns or adjectives to show movement from one side
attached to the beginning of nouns or adjectives to show movement from one side of something to the other, or covering a whole area from end to end
Every winter, Mira goes cross-country skiing in the mountains near her home.
cross-country = across open land rather than on ski tracks
The two countries signed an agreement to increase cross-border trade.
cross-border = from one side of a border to the other
Felipe found a cross-platform messaging tool that works on all his devices.
cross-platform = works across different computer systems
The airline offers cross-continental flights from Tokyo to São Paulo.
- cross-border trade
- cross-country journey
- cross-platform software
- cross-continental flight
- trans-
trans- is used in more formal or technical contexts, especially with Latin-derived roots (transatlantic, transcontinental)
Grammar Patterns
cross- + noun
cross- + adjective
2. attached to nouns or adjectives to show that something connects or involves two
attached to nouns or adjectives to show that something connects or involves two or more different groups, fields of study, or areas of activity
As part of a cross-cultural exchange, Charlotte spent a summer living with a family in Japan.
cross-cultural = involving two or more different cultures
The conference brought together experts from cross-disciplinary fields such as biology and computer science.
cross-disciplinary = connecting different academic subjects
A cross-party committee made up of politicians from all sides worked together on the new law.
cross-party = involving members of different political parties
By taking a cross-sector approach, Devika connected the health service with local schools.
- cross-cultural exchange
- cross-disciplinary approach
- cross-party agreement
- cross-sector collaboration
- inter-
inter- is more common in academic or formal writing (interdisciplinary, intercultural) and suggests mutual exchange rather than simply spanning categories
Grammar Patterns
cross- + noun
cross- + adjective
Usage Note
Commonly used with nouns that name categories of people, academic subjects, or organisational divisions.
Word family
- crossingnounB1
- crossedadjectiveB2
- crosslyadverbB2
- crossnessnounC1
- crossovernounB2
- crosswiseadverbC1
- crossbarnounB2
- crosswalknounA2
- crossfirenounC1
- cross-sectionnounB2
- cross-checkverbC1
- cross-referencenounC1
- cross-examineverbC1
- cross-breedverbC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four describe moving or extending from one side to another, but they differ in scope and register. 'Cross' is the everyday word: you cross a street, a bridge, or a border. 'Go across' is even simpler and works in casual speech ('go across the park'), but can sound wordy for short crossings. 'Traverse' is more formal and implies a longer or more difficult journey — you traverse a desert, a mountain range, or a continent, not a road. 'Intersect' is about lines or paths meeting at a point, not about a person travelling; roads intersect, but a person does not 'intersect' a road. For everyday use, choose 'cross' for most situations, 'go across' for very simple instructions, and 'traverse' only when the crossing is long or challenging.
Common collocations
Nouns
- line
- border
- path
- point
Adverbs
- quickly
- safely
- narrowly
- directly
- cautiously
Phrases
- cross the line (literal and figurative)
- at cross purposes (misunderstanding between two parties)
- cross paths with someone (meet by chance)
- double cross (act of betrayal)
Prepositions
- over
- through
- from ... to ...
Etymology
The English word 'cross' entered the language through Old English 'cros', borrowed from Old Norse 'kross' brought by Viking settlers. Both the Old Norse and Old English forms ultimately trace back to Latin 'crux', which meant a wooden frame used for execution by the Romans. The Latin word 'crux' also produced the modern English words 'crucial' (originally 'shaped like a cross'), 'crucifix', and 'crucify'. In medieval England, 'cross' gradually replaced the older native word 'rood' as the everyday term for both the execution device and the Christian symbol. The verb senses (to go across, to place across, to annoy) developed later, from the idea of something being placed crosswise or opposing someone's path.