1. To question a witness formally in a legal proceeding, usually on behalf of the opposing side.
2. To question someone closely and insistently to test their account.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- cross-examine a witness
- cross-examine on the evidence
On the page
The lawyer cross-examined the witness about the route he claimed to have taken.
Word forms
- Base
- cross-examine
- Past tense
- cross-examined
- Past participle
- cross-examined
- Present participle
- cross-examining
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- cross-examine
- Present continuous
- am/is/are cross-examining
- Present perfect
- have/has cross-examined
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been cross-examining
- Past
- cross-examined
- Past continuous
- was/were cross-examining
- Past perfect
- had cross-examined
- Past perfect continuous
- had been cross-examining
- Future
- will cross-examine
- Future continuous
- will be cross-examining
- Future perfect
- will have cross-examined
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been cross-examining
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: analysis / argumentation / evidence. Forms: cross-examine; cross-examines; cross-examined; cross-examined; cross-examining Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: evidence, dialogue. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: cross-examines.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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