cross paths

verb

Of two things or people, to be, by chance, in the same physical place at the same time, as a result of two completely separate journeys; to encounter or meet each other.

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Meanings

verbcross paths (third-person singular simple present crosses paths, present participle crossing paths, simple past and past participle crossed paths)

present singular third person crosses paths · participle present crossing paths · participle past crossed paths · past crossed paths

  1. idiomaticOf two things or people, to be, by chance, in the same physical place at the same time, as a result of two completely separate journeys; to encounter or meet each other.

    Presidential campaigns cross paths in up-for-grabs Iowa.

    2004 August 5, SFGate.com
    2 more examples

    Face to face, here we meet again / Exchanging glances and crossing paths / No time for games, let’s not pretend

    1981, Jean Carn, “Bet Your Lucky Star”, in Sweet and Wonderful

    Paddock came from the small town of Mesquite, some 60 miles (100 km) north-east of Las Vegas, and had resided in the hotel since 28 September. Police in Mesquite have searched his premises and recovered a number of weapons. But they say he had not crossed paths with the police in the past.

    2017 October 2, "Las Vegas shooting: At least 58 dead at Mandalay Bay Hotel", in bbc.com, BBC

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
encounter

Translations

Polish napotykać, napotkać
  • napotykaćverb
  • napotkaćverb
  • spotykaćverb
  • spotkaćverb
Cite this entry
APA

cross paths. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross%20paths

MLA

“cross paths.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross%20paths. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cross paths,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cross%20paths.

Source: cross paths on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.