Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: In addition to the uses shown below, '~' is used in phrasal verbs such as ‘come ~’, ‘get ~’, and ‘put ~’.
1.
If someone or something goes ~ a place or a boundary, they go from one side of it to the other.
She walked ~ the floor and lay down on the bed...
He watched Karl run ~ the street to Tommy.
...an expedition ~ Africa.
PREP
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Across is also an adverb.
Richard stood up and walked ~ to the window.
ADV: ADV after v
2.
If something is situated or stretched ~ something else, it is situated or stretched from one side of it to the other.
...the floating bridge ~ Lake Washington in Seattle...
He scrawled his name ~ the bill...
PREP
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Across is also an adverb.
Trim toenails straight ~ using nail clippers.
ADV: ADV after v
3.
If something is lying ~ an object or place, it is resting on it and partly covering it.
She found her clothes lying ~ the chair...
The wind pushed his hair ~ his face.
= over
PREP
4.
Something that is ~ something such as a street, river, or area is on the other side of it.
Anyone from the houses ~ the road could see him...
When I saw you ~ the room I knew I’d met you before.
PREP
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Across is also an adverb.
They parked ~ from the Castro Theatre...
ADV: ADV after v, usu ADV from n
5.
If you look ~ at a place, person, or thing, you look towards them.
He glanced ~ at his sleeping wife...
...breathtaking views ~ to the hills.
ADV: ADV after v, oft ADV prep
6.
You use ~ to say that a particular expression is shown on someone’s face.
An enormous grin spread ~ his face...
= over
PREP
7.
If someone hits you ~ the face or head, they hit you on that part.
Graham hit him ~ the face with the gun.
PREP
8.
When something happens ~ a place or organization, it happens equally everywhere within it.
The film ‘Hook’ opens ~ America on December 11...
PREP
9.
When something happens ~ a political, religious, or social barrier, it involves people in different groups.
...parties competing ~ the political spectrum...
~ the board: see board
PREP
10.
Across is used in measurements to show the width of something.
This hand-decorated plate measures 30cm ~...
ADV: amount ADV