cross-legged

adverb or adjective

ˈkrȯs-ˌle-gəd How to pronounce cross-legged (audio)
-ˌlā-;
-ˌlegd How to pronounce cross-legged (audio)
-ˌlāgd
1
: with legs crossed and knees spread wide apart
2
: with one leg placed over and across the other

Examples of cross-legged 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.
Another test, popularized on social media, asks someone to move from standing, to sitting cross-legged on the ground, and then back up to standing. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 On the west coast of Mexico, Michael Giardina, a Navy veteran, sat cross-legged on a cushion, and drank tea made with ground up psychedelic mushrooms. — Will Croxton, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 On Friday, July 31, the son of Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy Osbourne shared a photo of himself holding his and wife Aree Osbourne’s youngest daughter in his arms while sitting cross-legged in a park. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 The Anchorman star shared a photo reminiscent of the artwork on Nancy Priddy’s You’ve Come This Way Before, where mother and daughter both posed sitting cross-legged on the ground, wearing a denim shirt and jeans. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cross-legged

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross-legged was circa 1530

Rhymes for cross-legged

See All Rhymes for cross-legged

Browse Nearby Words

cross-leaved heath
cross-legged
crosslegs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

cross-legged

adverb
ˈkrȯ-ˈsleg(-ə)d
: with the legs crossed and the knees spread wide
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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