Across Meaning

UK /əˈkrɒs/
US /əˈkrɔːs/
Word Definition
across meaning

Across Definition & Usage

preposition

Indicating movement from one side to another, often involving a surface, space, or line.

Examples

  • "She walked across the street to the park."
  • "The river is so wide, but we still managed to get across."
  • "They went across the country to visit family."
  • "He threw the ball across the yard."
  • "The cat ran across the table, knocking everything off."
adverb

Used to express something extending from one point to another, indicating range or direction.

Examples

  • "The news spread quickly across the town."
  • "She looked across the room and saw him staring."
  • "His influence stretches across the entire industry."
  • "The project is being implemented across all departments."
  • "They were asked to report any issues across the site."
adjective

Describing something that spans or covers the entirety of an area, often implying crossing over something.

Examples

  • "They set up an across-the-board discount on all products."
  • "The company's across-the-board strategy is to improve customer service."
  • "There was a new across-the-nation policy change."
  • "The across-the-board evaluation was completed last month."
  • "Across-the-board changes will affect everyone in the office."

Cultural Context

The word 'across' has been part of the English language for centuries, with its earliest usage dating back to Middle English. It originally denoted physical movement or position, but over time it has expanded to describe abstract concepts, such as influence, effect, or range.

The Journey Across Boundaries

Story

The Journey Across Boundaries

Sophia had always dreamed of making a difference, but the challenge she faced was daunting. It wasn't just about crossing the street to the park or walking across the yard. She was about to cross boundaries that had once seemed insurmountable. Her mission? To help unite different communities in the city that had remained apart for decades. She had seen the division firsthand. One afternoon, while walking across the busy street, she noticed a group of people on one side, engrossed in their own conversations. On the other side of the street, there was another group, equally distant in their own world. In that moment, Sophia knew that the city was divided in ways that people didn't always see. It wasn’t enough to simply cross the street or connect the physical spaces; she had to cross over into their worlds. She started organizing events, hoping to spread her message of unity. The project was a success across the city, with more and more people joining in. One day, as she stood across from the community center, watching the bustling crowd come together, she realized that her efforts had grown far beyond her expectations. The impact had spread across neighborhoods, across generations, and across ideologies. As she looked around, she smiled at the progress she had made. She had not only helped people cross boundaries, but she had also created a new way of thinking—where 'across' was no longer just a word for physical space, but for bridging divides. Sophia had accomplished what many thought impossible, bringing together people from every corner of the city. And in the end, she understood that sometimes, to move forward, you need to cross across—across old habits, across differences, and across barriers—until you create something new.

The Journey Across Boundaries