WordGarden.ioacross
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /əkrˈɒs/
US
- /əˈkrɔs/
Meanings
Preposition
from one side to the other or on the opposite side
throughout or spanning a place, group, or range
Adverb
so as to be communicated or understood clearly
Beyond the definition
Imagine drawing a line on a map—"across" means going from one side of that line to the other! It's about movement or position relative to an opposite side. You might swim across a lake, walk across a street, or find a note you'd forgotten when you come across it. Sometimes it simply describes where something is: "the house across the street." And it can describe things spread out over a surface: papers scattered across the table. It's not just about physical space either; you can send a message across the world, or notice trends across generations.
The word "across" indicates movement or position from one side to another, over, or on the opposite side of something. It's a deceptively simple word with a surprising range of uses!
At its most basic, it describes physical traversal: "We drove across the country," meaning we traveled from one coast to the other. You might see a bridge stretching across a river, or walk across a room. It can also indicate being on the opposite side: "The bakery is just across from the park."
Across can also describe how something is laid out or distributed. If toys are scattered across the floor, they're spread from one part of it to another. When we talk about people or things across a city, a company, or a community, we usually mean "throughout it" (in many places, not just one).
But "across" isn't limited to physical locations. We use it in more abstract ways, too! You might come across an old photograph while cleaning, meaning you unexpectedly found it. A message can travel across continents thanks to technology. People with different viewpoints may even find common ground across their differences. And in phrases like "across the board," it means "in every case" or "for everyone involved."
Depending on context, "across" can suggest a distance or barrier being crossed. Swimming across the English Channel is no easy feat! And when something happens "across time" (or simply "over time"), it points to change happening over a long span.
So whether you're describing physical journeys, unexpected discoveries, communication over distances, or changes throughout history—"across" signifies movement, distance, and connection between two points.
Examples
- 1
Street location
She waved at me from across the street.
- 2
Movement over water
The river looked calm, but it was hard to swim across.
- 3
Facing location
The cafe is across from the station.
- Patternacross from
on the other side, facing something
- 4
Sound travel
Her voice carried across the room.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Business reach
The company now sells its products across Europe.
- 6
Social media
The story spread across social media in a few hours.
- 7
Communication
We need to get this message across without sounding angry.
- Patternget + message/idea + across
communicate it successfully
- 8
Accidental discovery
I came across an old school photo in a drawer.
- Patterncome across + object
find it by chance
- 9
Impression
He comes across as very confident in interviews.
- Patterncome across as + quality
seem
- 10
Wide effect
Travel costs have risen across the board this summer.
- Phraseacross the board
in every area or for everyone
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- acrossadverb