crossroads
gb/kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/ us/kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
B1
English
útkereszteződés, válaszút, találkozási pont, útkereszteződés környéke, útkereszteződésnél fekvő kis település
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
at the crossroads; a crossroads
There’s a small café at the crossroads just outside the village.
Közvetlenül a falun kívül, az útkereszteződésnél van egy kis kávézó.
Turn right at the crossroads and continue for two miles.
Az útkereszteződésnél fordulj jobbra, és menj tovább két mérföldet.
The police blocked the crossroads to control the traffic.
Learner examples
We stopped at the crossroads.
Megálltunk az útkereszteződésnél.
Turn left at the crossroads.
Fordulj balra az útkereszteződésnél.
Common mistake:
Although it looks plural, 'crossroads' is often treated as singular when it means one place (e.g., 'the crossroads is busy').
Meaning
place where roads cross
Collocations
busy crossroads
|major crossroads
|rural crossroads
|traffic at the crossroads
|stop at the crossroads
|turn left at the crossroads
|a crossroads with traffic lights
|a crossroads junction
|near the crossroads
|wait at the crossroads
Synonyms
intersection (General term for roads crossing, often in towns and cities.)
|
junction (Common in UK English for a place where roads meet.)
Antonyms
straightaway (A stretch of road with no crossing or junction.)
Themes
travel
|places
|daily_life
Definition
a place where two roads meet and cross
a place where two or more roads meet and cross each other
NOUN
B2
2
válaszút
B2
Usage pattern:
at a crossroads; reach a crossroads; a crossroads in [someone]'s life/career
After graduation, she found herself at a crossroads.
A diploma megszerzése után úgy érezte, válaszút előtt áll.
The company is at a crossroads and must decide whether to expand or cut back.
A vállalat válaszút előtt áll, és el kell döntenie, hogy terjeszkedik-e, vagy visszafogja a működését.
It was a crossroads in his career: stay in academia or move into industry.
Learner examples
I am at a crossroads in my life.
Válaszút előtt állok az életemben.
We are at a crossroads and must decide.
Válaszút előtt állunk, és döntenünk kell.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it for any small choice; it usually suggests a serious or life-changing decision.
Meaning
time to make a big choice
Collocations
at a crossroads
|reach a crossroads
|stand at a crossroads
|a crossroads in my life
|a crossroads in his career
|a crossroads moment
|a crossroads decision
|a crossroads for the company
|a crossroads for the country
|a crossroads in history
Synonyms
turning point (Emphasizes that things will change after this moment.)
|
critical juncture (More formal; often used in politics or business.)
Antonyms
status quo (The situation staying the same rather than changing direction.)
Themes
life
|decisions
|work
|society
Definition
a moment when you must choose what to do next
a point in a situation, life, or history when an important decision must be made and different possible directions are available
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
a crossroads of [cultures/ideas/trade/routes]
For centuries the city was a crossroads of trade and culture.
A város évszázadokon át a kereskedelem és a kultúrák találkozási pontja volt.
The port became a crossroads where languages and customs mixed.
A kikötő olyan találkozási ponttá vált, ahol nyelvek és szokások keveredtek.
The festival celebrates the region as a crossroads of musical traditions.
Learner examples
The city is a crossroads of cultures.
A város a kultúrák találkozási pontja.
Common mistake:
Don't confuse this meaning (a meeting place) with the 'decision point' meaning, which is about choosing between options.
Meaning
meeting point of different cultures
Collocations
a crossroads of cultures
|a crossroads of civilizations
|a crossroads of ideas
|a crossroads of trade
|a crossroads between East and West
|a cultural crossroads
|a historic crossroads
|a crossroads of migration
|a crossroads of languages
|a crossroads region
Synonyms
meeting point (More literal; does not necessarily suggest mixing influences.)
|
hub (Emphasizes centrality and connections, often for transport or activity.)
Antonyms
backwater (A place that is isolated and not influenced by outside ideas or activity.)
Themes
culture
|history
|society
|education
Definition
a place where different cultures or ideas meet
a place or situation where different groups, ideas, or influences meet and mix
NOUN
B2
4
Usage pattern:
a crossroads; at the crossroads
They lived in a crossroads with a post office and one grocery store.
Egy útkereszteződésnél fekvő kis településen laktak, ahol volt egy posta és egy élelmiszerbolt.
We stopped overnight at a crossroads on the old highway.
Megszálltunk éjszakára a régi országút egyik útkereszteződésénél.
A single gas station marked the crossroads.
Learner examples
There is a shop at the crossroads.
Van egy bolt az útkereszteződésnél.
Common mistake:
This sense is more common in rural descriptions; in cities, 'intersection' is usually preferred.
Meaning
small settlement at an intersection
Collocations
a tiny crossroads
|a sleepy crossroads
|a crossroads village
|a store at the crossroads
|a church at the crossroads
|a pub at the crossroads
|a farmhouse near the crossroads
|a crossroads community
|a crossroads town
|out at the crossroads
Synonyms
hamlet (A very small village; not necessarily at a road intersection.)
|
village (Often larger; does not specifically indicate roads crossing.)
Antonyms
city (Much larger settlement, not defined by a single junction.)
Themes
places
|travel
Definition
a small place where roads meet
a small place, or the area around a road intersection, especially in the countryside
Grammar
Dictionary form
crossroads
IPA
GB/kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
US/kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
Syllables & stress
cross - roads (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cross)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: crossroads
- Plural: crossroads
Word family
Expressions
a crossroads of
1/ə kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz əv/
fixed phrase
place where influences meet
a place where different things meet
Examples
- The island has long been a crossroads of cultures.
- The university is a crossroads of ideas from around the world.
- The region became a crossroads of trade between north and south.
Learner examples
- This city is a crossroads of cultures.
at a crossroads
1/ˈæt ə kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
idiom
needing to choose a direction
having to make an important choice
Examples
- I’m at a crossroads and I don’t know which job to take.
- The project is at a crossroads after the funding was cut.
- She knew she was at a crossroads when she moved to a new country.
Learner examples
- He is at a crossroads.
- We are at a crossroads now.
reach a crossroads
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ ə kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
fixed phrase
arrive at a decision point
to come to a time when you must choose
Examples
- We’ve reached a crossroads: either invest more or shut the project down.
- After ten years in the role, he reached a crossroads in his career.
- The talks reached a crossroads when neither side would compromise.
Learner examples
- Our team reached a crossroads.
stand at a crossroads
1/stˈænd ˈæt ə kɹˈɔsɹˌoʊdz/
fixed phrase
be at a turning point
to be at an important moment of choice
Examples
- The country stands at a crossroads after the election.
- The industry stands at a crossroads as new technology takes over.
- She felt she stood at a crossroads, unsure which path to follow.
Learner examples
- My career stands at a crossroads.