crossing

/ˈkɹɒsɪŋ/

//ˈkɹɒsɪŋ// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"crossing" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“crossing” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,073 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#4,073
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
11
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Cross-breeding.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

crossing vs cussing
75% similar
crossing vs crushing
75% similar
crossing vs cruising
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for crossing
PropertyValue
Headwordcrossing
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɹɒsɪŋ/
Letters8
Frequency rank#4,073
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs11
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “crossing” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). crossing lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for crossing is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkɹɒsɪŋ/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,073 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for crossing, with forms such as "ccrossing", "corssing", and "crosing". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 11 confusable-pair relationships, "cussing", "crushing", "cruising", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: By surface analysis, cross + -ing. The correct English form is crossing, spelled C-R-O-S-S-I-N-G.

Definition

  1. 1
    Cross-breeding.
  2. 2
    Opposition; thwarting.
  3. 3
    An intersection where roads, lines, or tracks cross.
  4. 4
    A place at which a river, railroad, or highway may be crossed.
  5. 5
    The act by which terrain or a road etc. is crossed.
  6. 6
    A voyage across a body of water.
  7. 7
    The volume formed by the intersection of chancel, nave and transepts in a cruciform church; often with a tower or cupola over it.
  8. 8
    Movement into a crossed position.
  9. 9
    A pair of intersecting edges.
  10. 10
    A pair of parallel lines printed on a cheque.
  11. 11
    The appropriation of a form of language by somebody who is not a member of the group that speaks it.
  12. 12
    Ellipsis of pedestrian crossing.

Etymology

By surface analysis, cross + -ing.

This word in other languages

cruce(Español)carrefour(Français)Kreuzung(Deutsch)encruzilhada(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccrossing,corssing,crosing,crosisng,crossign,crossingg,crossinng,crossnig,crrossing,crsosing,rcossing

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of crossing - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ccrossing1corssing2crosing1crosisng2crossign2crossingg1crossinng1crossnig2
Edit distance from "crossing"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "crossing"?
"crossing" is spelled C-R-O-S-S-I-N-G. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɹɒsɪŋ/.
What does "crossing" mean?
As a noun, "crossing" means: Cross-breeding.
What words are commonly confused with "crossing"?
"crossing" is commonly confused with "cussing", "crushing", "cruising". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "crossing"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "crossing" is /ˈkɹɒsɪŋ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "crossing"?
By surface analysis, cross + -ing. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “crossing”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-R-O-S-S-I-N-G - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkɹɒsɪŋ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “cussing” - see the side-by-side comparison. crossing vs cussing
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list