crossing

noun

cross·​ing ˈkrȯ-siŋ 

1

: the act or action of crossing: such as

a

: a traversing or traveling across

b

: an opposing, blocking, or thwarting especially in an unfair or dishonest manner

2

a

: a place or structure (as on a street or over a river) where pedestrians or vehicles cross

especially : crosswalk

b

: the place in a cruciform church where the transept crosses the nave

c

: a place where a railroad track crosses a street

Synonyms

• cruise
• passage
• sail
• voyage

Examples of crossing in a Sentence

Stop at the railroad crossing.

a crossing for ferry boats

the crossing of a mountain range

a weeklong crossing of the Atlantic Ocean

Recent Examples on the Web

The rain that was predicted to fall on the Oscars never arrived Sunday, but Hollywood Blvd is gated on both sides from Cahuenga Boulevard on the East and Le Brea on the West with crossing cut off as of Wilcox. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025

The cross-border trade is moved along 23 U.S.-Canada rail crossings and seven U.S.-Mexico crossings. —Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025

Looking at the graphic below, the slide in open-play crossing is clear — but this season’s figures suggest that the slide is not just slowing, but starting to trend in the other direction. —Mark Carey, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025

The figures are a stark reversal from the period before Biden signed the executive order targeting asylum when crossings soared to record levels, reaching as high as 250,000 in one month. —Austin Denean, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing crossing

• crossing guard
• crossing-over
• grade crossing
• level crossing
• pedestrian crossing
• pelican crossing
• railroad crossing
• zebra crossing

Rhymes for crossing

• bossing
• glossing
• tossing
• crisscrossing
• embossing
• outcrossing
• recrossing

Kids Definition

crossing

noun

cross·​ing ˈkrȯ-siŋ 

1

a

: the act of one that crosses

b

: a voyage across water

c

: the act or process of interbreeding or hybridizing

2

: a place where a street or stream is crossed

3

: a place where two things (as a street and a railroad track) cross