across from

IPA/əkɹˈɒs fɹɒm/
IPA/əkɹˈɑːs fɹʌm/

across from — preposition

1. directly facing someone or something across a space such as a street, room, or t

1.prepositionB1
Definition

directly facing someone or something across a space such as a street, room, or table.

Example

Emma lives across from the public library, so the walk takes only two minutes.

person + lives across from + [place]

The cafe across from the train station serves the best coffee in town.

[place] + across from + [place] — describing a location

Common collocations
  • live across from
  • sit across from
  • be across from
  • stand across from
  • the [place] across from
Synonyms
  • opposite

    slightly more formal; 'opposite' can also function as an adjective ('the opposite side'), whereas 'across from' is only a prepositional phrase.

  • facing

    focuses on orientation rather than position across a gap; 'facing' usually describes two things looking towards each other.

Antonyms
  • next to

    means beside or adjacent, not on the opposite side.

Grammar Patterns

[verb] + across from + [noun/pronoun]

Usage Note

Frequently used after verbs of position such as live, sit, stand, or be. The phrase always requires an object — you cannot say 'The bank is across from' without mentioning what it is across from. For example: 'The bank is across from the post office' (not just 'The bank is across from').

Common Mistakes

The supermarket is across.
The supermarket is across from the park.
'across from' must be followed by a noun or pronoun; 'across' alone is not a preposition.

Synonym discussion

Sense: preposition/1

Across from, opposite, and facing all describe a position on the other side of something. 'Across from' is the most neutral and common option in everyday spoken English — it works for streets, rooms, tables, and any other physical gap. 'Opposite' is slightly more formal and often appears in written directions or official descriptions ('the hotel opposite the station'). 'Facing' draws attention to orientation: two things looking at or pointing toward each other ('two buildings facing each other'). Use 'across from' as the default in conversation; use 'facing' when the idea of looking directly at something matters; save 'opposite' for more careful or formal writing.

opposite ↗facing ↗across from ↗

Etymology

Old FrenchOld EnglishEnglish

The phrase 'across from' combines the preposition 'across' (from Old French 'a croiz', meaning 'in the form of a cross') with 'from' (Old English 'fram', indicating separation or origin). Together they express the idea of being on the opposite side, separated by a space. The phrase became common in the 19th century as a clearer alternative to simple 'opposite', especially in American English.