crossbeam

noun

cross·​beam ˈkrȯs-ˌbēm How to pronounce crossbeam (audio)
Synonyms of crossbeamnext
: a transverse beam

Examples of crossbeam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Videos captured the ensuing chaos as people on the shoreline and bridge span ran in terror, and Navy cadets dangled from the ship's crossbeams and sailcloth. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 July 2025 Six hours later, Kim and David watched their prize hauled tail-first to the crossbeam of the scales back at Darenberg’s dock in Montauk. — Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025 In the footage, the driver can be seen climbing over a railing and going under the span, moving between crossbeams while more than 200 feet above the water. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026 That section once held a restaurant, a public restroom building, and several sea lion viewing holes — openings in the decking used to watch the pinnipeds lolling on the crossbeams below. — Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for crossbeam

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crossbeam was in 1594

Rhymes for crossbeam

See All Rhymes for crossbeam

Browse Nearby Words

crossbeak
crossbeam
crossbearer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crossbeam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crossbeam. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on crossbeam

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for crossbeam

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All