ENGLISH
REFERENCE

across

US //əˈkɹɔs// UK //əkɹˈɒs// across
  1. 1 from one side to the other (prep.)
    A1 Beginner

    from one side of something to the other side.

    from one side to the opposite side of a space, surface, or line.

    Example

    The children ran across the road to reach the park.

    Example

    The marathon route takes the runners across the historic bridge, offering a panoramic view of the city skyline before they enter the final stretch.
  2. 2 on the opposite side (prep.)
    A1 Beginner

    on the other side of something.

    positioned on the opposite side of a particular area or divider.

    Example

    The bakery is just across the street from the library.

    Example

    The two rival companies are located across the square from each other, maintaining a constant visual reminder of their competition.
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  1. 3 throughout an area (prep.)
    B1 Intermediate

    in every part of a place or group.

    distributed throughout or reaching every part of a specific area or population.

    Example

    The news spread quickly across the small village.

    Example

    The government implemented new environmental regulations across the entire manufacturing sector to reduce carbon emissions by the end of the decade.
  2. 4 movement to the other side (adv.)
    A2 Elementary

    moving from one side to the other.

    to or on the opposite side; used when the space being crossed is understood.

    Example

    The river is narrow enough to swim across.

    Example

    The ferry takes only ten minutes to get across, making it a convenient option for daily commuters.
  3. 5 informed about (prep.)
    C1 Advanced British English Formal

    knowing all the details about a situation or plan.

    fully informed about or in control of a specific situation or set of facts.

    Example

    I need to make sure the manager is across the new project details.

    Example

    The director is fully across the budgetary implications of the merger and will present her findings to the board tomorrow morning.
  4. 6 crossword clues (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a word that goes from left to right in a word puzzle.

    a clue or answer that is entered horizontally in a crossword puzzle.

    Example

    I have finished all the across clues, but the down ones are hard.

    Example

    The solver struggled with twelve across, a cryptic clue that required knowledge of obscure botanical terms.
Origin

Etymology tree ▲ Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁en- Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Italic *en Old Latin en Latin in Old French en Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker-der.? Latin crux Old French crois Anglo-Norman an croizbor. Middle English acros English across From Middle English acros, from early Middle English a-croiz, a-creoyz, from Anglo-Norman an (“in, on”) + croiz (“in the form of a cross”). More at cross. By surface analysis, a- + cross.

Usage

Typically followed by a noun phrase acting as the object of the preposition.

Pitfall

He walked across of the bridgeHe walked across the bridgeAcross is a preposition and does not require 'of' to connect to its object.

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