What does crosstown mean?
'Crosstown' is an American English adjective, also usable adverbially, describing something that runs or moves across a town or city from one side to the other, rather than toward or away from its center. A crosstown bus, for example, travels laterally across the city grid instead of heading downtown or uptown, making the word especially common in discussions of urban transit in places like New York City, where dedicated crosstown routes are a fixture of daily life. The word also extends beyond transportation: a 'crosstown rivalry' refers to a sports competition between teams based in different parts of the same city, such as the long-running contests between UCLA and USC. Because it captures a specifically lateral relationship within a city, 'crosstown' fills a niche that words like 'downtown' or 'suburban' cannot. It is neutral in register, appearing comfortably in journalism, everyday conversation, and official signage alike, and it remains a distinctly useful term for anyone describing how people and vehicles actually move through a city.
Extending or running across a town or city, especially from one side to the other rather than into or out of the center.
"A new crosstown bike lane made it far easier to cycle from the west side to the east."
Chiefly North American; often used of public transport routes and major streets.
In a direction across a town or city, rather than toward or away from its center.
"It took nearly an hour to get crosstown during rush hour."
Less common than the adjective form but well established in American usage.
In New York City, 'taking the crosstown' is shorthand for one of the most notoriously slow bus journeys in America — crossing just two miles of Manhattan can take longer than driving ten miles uptown.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crosstown
'Crosstown' is a straightforward English compound formed from 'cross' plus 'town', first appearing in American usage in the nineteenth century as cities grew dense enough that traversing them sideways became a distinct activity worth naming. The element 'cross' goes back to Middle English and Old Irish Norse-influenced forms, ultimately deriving from Latin 'crux'. It is thus related etymologically not only to 'downtown' and 'uptown' as fellow '-town' compounds, but more distantly to words carrying the sense of 'across' or 'intersecting', such as 'crossover' and 'crosswalk'. The word has remained essentially American throughout its history and has no established British equivalent.
How crosstown is actually used
'Crosstown' is used almost exclusively in American English and is most strongly associated with large cities, especially New York City, where crosstown buses and the crosstown rivalry between local universities are familiar concepts. It functions as both an adjective (a crosstown street) and, less commonly, as an adverb (to travel crosstown). It carries no strong connotation of formality or informality and appears readily in news reporting about urban transit.
Easily confused with crosstown
'Downtown' means toward or located in the central business district of a city, whereas 'crosstown' means moving or extending across the town from one side to the other.