Word
across
US/əˈkɹɔs/
UK/əkɹˈɒs/
Definitions
01from one side to the other
A1 · Beginner
prep. from one side of something to the other side.
prep. from one side to the opposite side of a space, surface, or line.
“The children ran across the road to reach the park.”
“The marathon route takes the runners across the historic bridge, offering a panoramic view of the city skyline before they enter the final stretch.”
02on the opposite side
A1 · Beginner
prep. on the other side of something.
prep. positioned on the opposite side of a particular area or divider.
Español:al otro lado de
“The bakery is just across the street from the library.”
“The two rival companies are located across the square from each other, maintaining a constant visual reminder of their competition.”
03throughout an area
B1 · Intermediate
prep. in every part of a place or group.
prep. distributed throughout or reaching every part of a specific area or population.
Español:en
“The news spread quickly across the small village.”
“The government implemented new environmental regulations across the entire manufacturing sector to reduce carbon emissions by the end of the decade.”
Synonyms
04movement to the other side
A2 · Elementary
adv. moving from one side to the other.
adv. to or on the opposite side; used when the space being crossed is understood.
“The river is narrow enough to swim across.”
“The ferry takes only ten minutes to get across, making it a convenient option for daily commuters.”
Synonyms
05informed about
C1 · Advanced British English · Formal
prep. knowing all the details about a situation or plan.
prep. fully informed about or in control of a specific situation or set of facts.
“I need to make sure the manager is across the new project details.”
“The director is fully across the budgetary implications of the merger and will present her findings to the board tomorrow morning.”
Synonyms
06crossword clues
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a word that goes from left to right in a word puzzle.
n. a clue or answer that is entered horizontally in a crossword puzzle.
“I have finished all the across clues, but the down ones are hard.”
“The solver struggled with twelve across, a cryptic clue that required knowledge of obscure botanical terms.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
Typically followed by a noun phrase acting as the object of the preposition.
Pitfall
He walked across of the bridge
He walked across the bridge
Across is a preposition and does not require 'of' to connect to its object.
Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/across
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0