Across — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

preposition adverb adjective /ə-ˈkrȯs/

Meaning & Definition of Across

Across (preposition)

  1. from one side to the opposite side of, over, through
  2. on the opposite side of
  3. so as to intersect or pass through at an angle

Across (adverb)

  1. in a position reaching from one side to the other, crosswise
  2. to or on the opposite side
  3. so as to be understandable, acceptable, or successful

Across (adjective)

  1. being in a crossed position

Across (preposition) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to the opposite side of

    "we rowed across the lake and visited the other couple for the evening"

    similar: athwart, over, through
    related: around, round, beyond, past

  2. in random positions within the boundaries of

    "sheep scattered across the field"

    similar: about, around, over, round, through, throughout
    related: on

Across (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. from one side to the other of an intervening space

    "will you go across to the Bentley's and see if their phone is working?"

    similar: athwart, over, through
    related: clear

Related Entry: Across-the-board (adjective)

Across-the-board is a different word from Across. The synonyms below are for across-the-board, not for across.

  1. belonging or relating to the whole

    "an across-the-board reduction in the state's budget because of declining revenues"

    similar: blanket, broad-brush, common, general, generic, global, overall, universal
    related: all-embracing, broad, broad-gauge, broadscale, comprehensive, extensive, inclusionary, overarching, pervasive, sweeping, ubiquitous, wholesale, wide, widespread, aggregate, collective, complete, full, plenary, planetary, worldwide
    opposite: individual, particular
    near: component, constituent, cross-sectional, divisional, fragmentary, partial, local, localized, regional, sectional

Related Entry: Across the board (phrase)

Across the board is a different word from Across. The synonyms below are for across the board, not for across.

  1. with everyone or everything taken into account at the same time

    "The Oscar-nominated film received a positive reception across the board."

    similar: all around, all told, altogether, collectedly, collectively, inclusively, overall, together, all in all, in the aggregate, on the whole
    related: broadly, generally, liberally, loosely, macroscopically, all over, completely, comprehensively, encyclopedically, entirely, exhaustively, fully, sweepingly, thoroughly, totally, wholly
    near: detailedly, microscopically, minutely, literally, narrowly, restrictedly, strictly, alone, categorically, distinctly, exclusively, fractionally, individually, separately, singly, singularly, solely, solitarily, specifically

Related Entry: Come across (as) (verb)

Come across (as) is a different word from Across. The synonyms below are for come across (as), not for across.

  1. to give the impression of being

    "the law professor comes across as a bit of an ogre at first, but he's actually quite personable"

    similar: act, appear, come off (as), feel, look, make, seem, sound
    related: dissemble, pretend, recall, resemble, suggest, hint, imply, insinuate

Related Entry: Get across (verb)

Get across is a different word from Across. The synonyms below are for get across, not for across.

  1. to make plain or understandable

    "what I'm trying to get across is that there simply is no money for the project"

    similar: clarify, clear (up), construe, demonstrate, demystify, elucidate, explain, explicate, expound, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, simplify, spell out, unriddle
    related: decipher, decode, analyze, break down, disentangle, undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle, resolve, solve, define, specify, annotate, commentate, gloss
    opposite: obscure
    near: befog, cloud, confound, confuse, obfuscate

Related Entry: Come across (phrase)

Come across is a different word from Across. The synonyms below are for come across, not for across.

  1. to come upon unexpectedly or by chance

    "She came across an old photo album in a box in the basement."

    similar: chance (upon), encounter, find, happen (on or upon), hit (upon), light (on or upon), meet, pitch (upon), stumble (on or onto), tumble (upon), bump into, run across, run against, run into, run upon
    related: luck (out, on, onto, or into), confront, face, discover, strike, turn up

Related Entry: Run across (phrase)

Run across is a different word from Across. The synonyms below are for run across, not for across.

  1. to come upon unexpectedly or by chance

    "She ran across an old friend at lunch."

    similar: chance (upon), encounter, find, happen (on or upon), hit (upon), light (on or upon), meet, pitch (upon), stumble (on or onto), tumble (upon), bump into, come across, run against, run into, run upon
    related: luck (out, on, onto, or into), confront, face, discover, strike, turn up

  2. to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face

    "They ran across a bear while camping in the woods."

    similar: catch, chance (upon), encounter, happen (upon), meet, stumble (upon), bump into, cross paths (with), run into, run upon
    related: accost, confront, face, greet, salute, collide (with), crash (into), crisscross, cross, pass, hit (upon), light (upon), tumble (to), reencounter, remeet
    near: avoid, dodge, duck, elude, escape, evade, shake, shun

Related Entry: Put across (verb)

Put across is a different word from Across. The synonyms below are for put across, not for across.

  1. as in communicate, convey

    similar: communicate, convey, put over, chime in, offer, submit, sound off, speak out, speak up, describe, write, write up, broadcast, circulate, disseminate, publish, advertise, announce, declare, enounce, enunciate, proclaim, say, air, expound, express, give, look, raise, sound, state, vent, ventilate, voice
    opposite: stifle, suppress, censor, restrain, restrict

Related Entry: Puts across (verb)

Puts across is a different word from Across. The synonyms below are for puts across, not for across.

  1. as in communicates, conveys

    similar: communicates, conveys, puts over, chimes in, offers, submits, sounds off, speaks out, speaks up, describes, writes, writes up, broadcasts, circulates, disseminates, publishes, advertises, announces, declares, enounces, enunciates, proclaims, says, airs, expounds, expresses, gives, looks, raises, sounds, states, ventilates, vents, voices
    opposite: stifles, suppresses, censors, restrains, restricts

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Across

The most common words with a similar meaning to Across:

athwart, over, through, about, around, round, throughout

Related Words for Across

beyond, past, on, clear

Origin & Etymology of Across

derivative of across:2

First known use: 1538

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Across

Words & Phrases Containing Across

across the board, across-the-board, across country, across from, across the pond, across the street, across the way

Frequently Asked Questions about Across

What does "Across" mean?

"Across" means from one side to the opposite side of, over, through. As an a preposition, an adverb and an adjective, it is defined as: from one side to the opposite side of, over, through. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Across"?

Other words for "Across" include athwart, over, through, about, around, round and throughout. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Across" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Across"?

There are 11 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Across". Common alternatives include athwart, over, through, about, around, round and throughout.

How do you use "Across" in a sentence?

Examples of "Across" in a sentence: "we rowed across the lake and visited the other couple for the evening"; "sheep scattered across the field"; "will you go across to the Bentley's and see if their phone is working?".

Is "Across" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Across" can be used as a preposition, an adverb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Across" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Across" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Across"?

"Across" is pronounced /ə-ˈkrȯs/.

What is the origin of the word "Across"?

"Across" comes from derivative of across:2. First known use: 1538.