# crossroads

/ˈkɹɔsˌɹoʊdz/ (US) · /kɹˈɒsɹəʊdz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/crossroads
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. road intersection

noun · CEFR B1

a place where two or more roads cross each other.

For teachers: a physical junction where two or more roads intersect. Often used as a singular noun despite the plural ending.

- Turn left at the next crossroads to find the village shop.
- The accident occurred at a busy rural crossroads where visibility was obscured by overgrown hedges and a lack of proper signage.

Usage: Can be treated as either singular ('a crossroads') or plural ('many crossroads').

### 2. a decision point

noun · CEFR B2

a time when you must make a very important decision that will change your future.

For teachers: a metaphorical turning point or critical juncture where a choice must be made between different courses of action.

- After ten years in the same job, he felt he was at a crossroads in his career.
- The company reached a strategic crossroads, forced to choose between aggressive international expansion or consolidating its existing domestic market share.

Usage: Usually follows the preposition 'at'.

## Examples

- She stood at a career crossroads.
- After graduating, he faced a crossroads between pursuing art or taking a stable office job.
- The nation stood at a historical crossroads, forced to choose between isolationism and global engagement as the geopolitical landscape shifted dramatically.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.