across
gb/əkɹˈɔs/ us/əkɹˈɔs/
A1
English
~ 2500
Senses
0 senses
preposition
A1
relation
1
From one side to the other
Showing that someone or something goes from one side of a place, surface, or object to the other side.
Usage pattern:
to move [someone/something] across [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'across' with 'through'. 'Across' is for movement over a surface from one side to the other; 'through' is for movement inside something from one side to another.
Synonyms
over (Often used for movement above something, especially a surface or obstacle, not always implying touching it.)
Antonyms
along (Means moving in the same direction as the length of something, not from one side to another.)
Collocations
walk across the street
|run across the field
|swim across the river
|look across the room
Themes
daily life
|travel
|location
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She walked across the street to the café.
- The dog ran across the field chasing a ball.
- We swam across the lake in the morning.
- He looked across the room and saw her smiling.
Learner examples
- I walk across the road.
- The boy runs across the park.
- We swim across the pool.
- She goes across the bridge.
adverb
A2
relation
2
From one side to another
Moving or positioned from one side to another.
Common mistake:
Learners may forget that 'across' as an adverb can stand alone without naming what is crossed if clear from context.
Synonyms
crosswise (More specific about being at an angle or perpendicular, less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
lengthwise (Indicates movement or position along the length, not across the width.)
Collocations
straight across
|right across
|all across
Themes
daily life
|location
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The river is half a mile across.
- She ran straight across without stopping.
- The shop is just across from the bank.
Learner examples
- He ran across quickly.
- The pool is ten meters across.
- My house is across from the park.
preposition
A2
relation
3
On the opposite side facing
On the other side of something and looking toward you or a place.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'across from' with 'next to'. 'Across from' means there is space or an obstacle between you and the other thing.
Synonyms
opposite (Often used as an adjective; 'across' emphasizes location relative to something in between.)
Antonyms
next to (Means beside or adjacent, not separated by space or an obstacle.)
Collocations
across the street
|across the table
Themes
location
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He sat across the table from me.
- There’s a pharmacy across the street.
- She lives across the hall from us.
Learner examples
- He is across the table from me.
- The shop is across the street.
- My friend lives across the hall.
adverb
B1
relation
4
Covering an area or group
Happening in many places or with many people in a group or area.
Common mistake:
Learners might overuse 'in' instead of 'across' when talking about effects covering multiple locations.
Synonyms
throughout ('Throughout' can sound slightly more formal and emphasizes completeness.)
Antonyms
within ('Within' suggests being inside a specific part, not spread over a wide area.)
Collocations
across the country
|across cultures
Themes
communication
|society
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The news spread quickly across the city.
- The policy will be applied across all departments.
- There was excitement across the nation.
Learner examples
- The story went across the town.
- It is popular across many schools.
- The rule works across all teams.
Grammar
Dictionary form
across
IPA
GB/əkɹˈɔs/
US/əkɹˈɔs/
Syllables & stress
across (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: across
- Plural: acrosses
Word family
Forms
acrosses
noun
Core family
cross
verb A1
crossing
noun
Related words
crosswalk
noun
Negative and opposite forms
uncross
verb
Advanced or less common
crossover
noun
crosswise
adverb
Expressions
across from
1/əkɹˈɔs fɹˈʌm/
fixed phrase
Directly opposite something
Directly on the other side of something from someone or something else.
Examples
- The café is across from the library.
- She sat across from me during dinner.
come across as
1/kˈʌm əkɹˈɔs ˈæz/
fixed phrase
Seem to have a quality
To seem to have a certain quality when people see you or hear you.
Examples
- He comes across as very confident.
- She didn't want to come across as rude.
get one's message across
1/ɡˈɛt wˈʌnz mˈɛsɪd͡ʒ əkɹˈɔs/
fixed phrase
Communicate clearly to others
To make someone understand what you want to say.
Examples
- The teacher used pictures to get her message across.
- He struggled to get his point across during the meeting.
come across
1/kˈʌm əkɹˈɔs/
phrasal verb
Find by chance / seem a certain way
To find something by accident; or to seem like a particular type of person when others see you.
Examples
- I came across an old photo in the attic.
- I came across an old photo in my desk.
- He comes across as very confident.
- She came across a great little café downtown.