crosswalk

IPA/ˈkrɒswɔːk/
KK[krˈɑswˌɑk]IPA/ˈkrɔːswɔːk/

crosswalk — noun

  • crosswalksingular
  • crosswalksplural

1. a marked area painted on a road surface where people who are walking have the le

1.nounA2
Definition

a marked area painted on a road surface where people who are walking have the legal right to cross to the other side, and drivers must stop for them

Example

Anya waited at the crosswalk for the light to turn green before stepping off the kerb.

collocation: wait at the crosswalk

The driver stopped at the crosswalk to let an older woman cross with her shopping bag.

collocation: stop at the crosswalk

Common collocations
  • use the crosswalk
  • cross at the crosswalk
  • wait at the crosswalk
  • stop at the crosswalk
  • painted crosswalk
  • marked crosswalk
  • school crosswalk
Synonyms
  • pedestrian crossing

    British English equivalent; broader term that includes zebra crossings and pelican crossings

  • zebra crossing

    a specific type of crosswalk with black-and-white stripes; common in British English

  • crossing

    shorter, informal form: 'the kids used the crossing'

Grammar Patterns

a/the crosswalk

cross at the crosswalk

use the crosswalk

Usage Note

American English term. In British English the equivalent is 'pedestrian crossing' or 'zebra crossing'. Often used with prepositions 'at' (wait at the crosswalk) and 'across' (walk across the crosswalk). Frequently modified by adjectives like 'marked', 'unmarked', 'pedestrian'.

Common Mistakes

I crossed the street through the crosswalk.
I crossed the street at the crosswalk.
'Through' sounds like you are walking through the paint; use 'at' or 'using'.
Jaywalking is crossing at the crosswalk when the light is red.
Jaywalking is crossing the street outside the crosswalk.
Jaywalking means crossing where there is no crosswalk or against the light, not following crosswalk rules.

Word family

  • crosswalking
    nounC1
  • pedestrian crossing
    nounA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Crosswalk (American English) and pedestrian crossing (British English) both describe a marked area where pedestrians have priority to cross a road. Within British English, 'zebra crossing' refers specifically to the striped black-and-white crossing with no traffic lights, where drivers must give way to anyone on the crossing. A 'pedestrian crossing' is the broader category that includes zebra crossings, pelican crossings (with push-button traffic lights), and other types. In the US, 'crosswalk' covers all marked pedestrian crossings regardless of whether they have signals. For example: 'Vinícius crossed at the crosswalk where the light had just turned green' (US — any marked crossing). 'Folake waited for the cars to stop at the zebra crossing near the hospital' (UK — striped, no traffic lights). American English also uses 'crosswalk' in traffic law; jaywalking means crossing outside a crosswalk.

crosswalk ↗pedestrian crossingzebra crossing

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • use the crosswalk
  • cross at the crosswalk
  • stop at the crosswalk
  • wait at the crosswalk
  • jaywalk across (outside a crosswalk)

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'crosswalk' is a straightforward compound of 'cross' (from Old English 'cros', meaning 'to go from one side to the other') and 'walk' (from Old English 'wealcan', meaning 'to roll, move, or go on foot'). The term emerged in American English in the early 1900s as city traffic increased and cities began painting designated walking paths across streets to improve pedestrian safety. Before the term was standardised, people simply said 'crossing' or 'street crossing'.

First known use

1853

1853, in the meaning defined above