cross paths

phrase

: to meet especially by chance
crossed paths with an old friend on a business trip

Examples of cross paths in a Sentence

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.
Because Andrew and Miguel never meet in person in the film, Zeller ensured that Dano and Bardem never crossed paths during production. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 The film will see Haymitch cross paths with characters both new and familiar, including Mckenna Grace‘s Maysilee Donner, Elle Fanning‘s Effie Trinket, and Glenn Close‘s Drusilla Sickle. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Aug. 2026 Snoop Dogg and 2Pac’s careers crossed paths while dominating rap as superstars leading Suge Knight’s Death Row Records in the mid-’90s. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2026 The carousel on the post featured various images of the two, who first crossed paths at the Grand Ole Opry’s Opry100 celebration in 1977. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cross paths

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross paths was in 1872

Rhymes for cross paths

See All Rhymes for cross paths

Browse Nearby Words

crosspatch
cross paths
cross peen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cross paths.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross%20paths. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All