across

acrosspreposition

Across shows movement from one side of something to the other, a position on the far side, or something spread over a whole area.

1. from side to sidefrom one side of something to the other

   • They swam across the river.
   • A bridge goes across the valley.
   • She walked across the room to answer the door.
   • We drove across the desert in one day.

   Collocations

   verb + preposition swim across, walk across, drive across

   Compare through (through is for movement inside or among things; across is for movement over a surface or from side to side); over

2. on the other sideon or to the other side of something

   • Our neighbors live across the road.
   • There's a small bakery across from the station.
   • The park is just across the river from here.

   Collocations

   phrase across from, just across

3. throughoutover the whole width or surface of an area or a group

   • News of the storm spread across the country.
   • The company now has offices across Europe.
   • A smile spread across her face.

   Collocations

   verb + preposition spread across

   Synonyms throughout