crossroad

noun

cross·​road ˈkrȯs-ˌrōd How to pronounce crossroad (audio)
also -ˈrōd
Synonyms of crossroadnext
1
: a road that crosses a main road or runs cross-country between main roads
2
usually crossroads ˈkrȯs-ˌrōdz How to pronounce crossroad (audio)
also -ˈrōdz
 plural in form but singular or plural in construction
a
: the place of intersection of two or more roads
b(1)
: a small community located at such a crossroads
(2)
: a central meeting place
c
: a crucial point especially where a decision must be made

Synonyms of crossroad

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Examples of crossroad in a Sentence

Traffic was stopped at the crossroad. We turned onto a crossroad.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But after the recent mega-sale of much of his Wynwood portfolio to hedge fund executive Ken Griffin, Mana is at a crossroads. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 And after a 4-8 season, Wulff left Cal Poly and Dieffenbach faced another crossroads. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Related Stories The growing muscle that YouTube flexes as the video crossroads of the world was a near-constant subject of conversation. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 Critics see a once-lively multiethnic crossroads suffocated by Chinese authoritarianism. — David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crossroad

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crossroad was in 1686

Rhymes for crossroad

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Browse Nearby Words

cross-rib
crossroad
cross roll
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Cite this Entry

“Crossroad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crossroad. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

crossroad

noun
cross·​road ˈkrȯs-ˌrōd How to pronounce crossroad (audio)
-ˈrōd
1
: a road that crosses a main road or runs across country between main roads
2
a
: a place where roads cross
—usually used in plural
b
: a small community at a crossroads
3
: a place or time at which a decision must be made
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