cross

1 of 5

noun

ˈkrȯs How to pronounce cross (audio)
Synonyms of crossnext
1
a
: a structure consisting of an upright with a transverse beam used especially by the ancient Romans for execution
b
often capitalized : the cross on which Jesus was crucified
2
a
: crucifixion
b
: an affliction that tries one's virtue, steadfastness, or patience
We all have our crosses to bear.
3
: a cruciform sign made to invoke the blessing of Christ especially by touching the forehead, breast, and shoulders
4
a
: a device composed of an upright bar traversed (see traverse entry 1 sense transitive 3) by a horizontal one
specifically : one used as a Christian symbol
b
capitalized : the Christian religion
5
: a structure (such as a monument) shaped like or surmounted by a cross
a cross over a grave
6
: a figure or mark formed by two intersecting lines crossing at their midpoints
The crosses at the end of the letter indicate kisses.
specifically : such a mark used as a signature
7
: a cruciform badge, emblem, or decoration
8
: the intersection of two ways or lines : crossing
9
: annoyance, thwarting
a cross in love
10
a
: an act of crossing (see cross entry 2 sense 8) dissimilar individuals
b
: a crossbred individual or kind
The dog is a cross of a hunting dog and a sheepdog.
c
: one that combines characteristics of two different types or individuals
A zedonk is a cross between a zebra and a donkey.
11
a
: a fraudulent or dishonest contest
"I never fought a cross or struck a foul blow in my life … "—George Bernard Shaw
b
: dishonest or illegal practices
—used especially in the phrase on the cross
12
: a movement from one part of a theater stage to another
13
a
: a punch thrown over the opponent's lead in boxing
hit him with a right cross
b
: an attacking pass in soccer played across the field from one side to the other or to the middle
14
: a security transaction in which a broker acts for both buyer and seller (as in the placing of a large lot of common stock)

called also cross-trade

Illustration of cross

Illustration of cross
  • 1 Latin
  • 2 Calvary
  • 3 patriarchal or cross of Lorraine
  • 4 papal
  • 5 cross of Lorraine
  • 6 Greek
  • 7 Celtic
  • 8 Maltese
  • 9 Saint Andrew's
  • 10 tau
  • 11 pommée
  • 12 botonée
  • 13 fleury
  • 14 avellan
  • 15 moline
  • 16 formée
  • 17 fourchée
  • 18 crosslet
  • 19 quadrate
  • 20 potent

cross

2 of 5

verb

crossed; crossing; crosses

transitive verb

1
a
: to lie or be situated across
b
: intersect
2
: to make the sign of the cross upon or over
3
: to cancel by marking a cross on or drawing a line through : strike out
cross names off a list
4
: to place or fold crosswise one over the other
cross the arms
5
a(1)
: to run counter to : oppose
(2)
: to deny the validity of : contradict
b
: to confront in a troublesome manner : obstruct
c(1)
: to spoil completely : disrupt
—used with up
His failure to appear crossed up the whole program.
(2)
: to turn against : betray
crossed me up on the deal
6
a
: to extend across or over : traverse
a highway crossing the entire state
b
: reach, attain
Only two crossed the finish line.
c
: to go from one side of to the other
cross a street
crosses racial barriers
7
a
: to draw a line across
b
: to mark or figure with lines : streak
8
: to cause (an animal or plant) to interbreed with one of a different kind : hybridize
9
: to meet and pass on the way
Our letters must have crossed each other.
10
: to occur to
It never crossed my mind.
11
: to carry or take across something
crossed the children at the intersection
12
: to turn (the eyes) inward toward the nose
The boy made a funny face and crossed his eyes.

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move, pass, or extend across something
crossed through France
crossed over to the other side of the river
b
: to move or pass from one character, condition, or allegiance to another
—used with over
crossing over to vote for another party's candidate
2
: to lie or be athwart each other
3
: to meet in passing especially from opposite directions
4
: interbreed, hybridize
crosser noun

cross

3 of 5

adjective

1
a
: lying across or athwart
b
: moving across
cross traffic
2
a
: running counter : opposite
b
: mutually opposed
cross purposes
3
: involving mutual interchange : reciprocal
4
: marked by typically transitory bad temper
5
: extending over or treating several groups, conditions, or classes
a cross sample from 25 colleges
6
: crossbred, hybrid
crossly adverb
crossness noun

cross

4 of 5

preposition

: across

cross

5 of 5

adverb

: not parallel : crisscross, crosswise
Phrases
cross one's fingers or keep one's fingers crossed
: to hope for a particular or stated outcome
Owners are crossing their fingers that relief might be on the way.—Mike Freeman
Keep your fingers crossed that something will be worked out.—Marge Crumbaker
cross paths
: to meet especially by chance
crossed paths with an old friend on a business trip
cross swords
: to engage in a dispute

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of cross in a Sentence

Noun a necklace with a gold cross The teacher marked the absent students on her list with crosses. Those who could not write signed their names with a cross. Verb We crossed the state border hours ago. The dog crossed the street. The highway crosses the entire state. He was the first runner to cross the finish line. The train crosses through France. Put a nail where the boards cross. One line crossed the other. Adjective I didn't mean to make you cross. I was cross with her for being so careless.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The 23-year-old chopped past his opponent before whipping in a right-footed cross in the direction of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson. —Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 Kourtney accessorized the look with two cross necklaces and a pair of black-rimmed spectacles, while also showing off her engagement ring and wedding band. —Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 28 May 2025
Verb
Israel finally agreed to ease the blockade on Sunday and said that 93 trucks had crossed the border on Tuesday and that an additional 107 had yesterday. —Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 23 May 2025 Five runs had crossed the plate before the Royals defense escaped the top of the first inning. —Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for cross

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, Adjective, Preposition, and Adverb

Middle English, from Old English, from Old Norse or Old Irish; Old Norse kross, from Old Irish cros, from Latin cruc-, crux

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Preposition

1551, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing cross

Rhymes for cross

See All Rhymes for cross

Browse Nearby Words

crosnes
cross
Cross
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cross.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

cross

1 of 3 noun
ˈkrȯs How to pronounce cross (audio)
1
a
: a structure consisting of one bar crossing another at right angles
b
often capitalized : the cross on which Jesus was crucified used as a symbol of Christianity and the Christian religion
2
: sorrow or suffering as a test of patience or virtue
had their crosses to bear
3
: an object or mark shaped like a cross
a stone cross
put a cross next to the name
4
a
: an act of crossing unlike individuals
b
: a crossbred individual or kind
5
: a punch that crosses over an opponent's punch in boxing

cross

2 of 3 verb
1
a
: to lie or be situated across
put a nail where the boards cross each other
b
: intersect sense 1
where two lines cross
c
: to move, pass, or extend across
a bridge crossing the river
cross the street
2
: to make the sign of the cross on or over (as in prayer)
3
: to cancel by marking a cross on or drawing a line through
cross names off a list
cross out a mistake
4
: to place one over the other
cross the arms
5
: to act against : oppose
don't cross me
6
: to draw a line across
cross your t's
7
: interbreed, hybridize
8
: to pass in opposite directions
our letters crossed in the mail
9
: to occur to
it never crossed my mind
10
: to turn (the eyes) inward toward the nose
his eyes were crossed

cross

3 of 3 adjective
1
: lying or moving across
cross traffic
2
: contrary entry 2 sense 1
3
: marked by bad temper : grumpy
crossly adverb
crossness noun
Etymology

Noun

Old English cros, probably from an early Norse or an early Irish word derived from Latin crux "cross" — related to crucial, cruise, crusade, crux, excruciating

Medical Definition

cross

1 of 3 noun
ˈkrȯs How to pronounce cross (audio)
1
: a device composed of an upright bar traversed by a horizontal one
2
a
: an act of crossing dissimilar individuals
b
: a crossbred individual or kind

cross

2 of 3 transitive verb
: to cause (an animal or plant) to interbreed with one of a different kind : hybridize
the crossing of two cattle breeds

intransitive verb

: interbreed, hybridize

cross

3 of 3 adjective
: crossbred, hybrid

Geographical Definition

Cross

geographical name

ˈkrȯs How to pronounce Cross (audio)
river 300 miles (483 kilometers) long in western Cameroon and southeastern Nigeria flowing west and south into the Gulf of Guinea

Biographical Definition

Cross

biographical name

ˈkrȯs How to pronounce Cross (audio)
Wilbur Lucius 1862–1948 American educator and politician

More from Merriam-Webster on cross

Nglish: Translation of cross for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cross

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All