intersect

verb

in·​ter·​sect ˌin-tər-ˈsekt How to pronounce intersect (audio)
intersected; intersecting; intersects
Synonyms of intersectnext

transitive verb

: to pierce or divide by passing through or across : cross
a comet intersecting earth's orbit
one line intersects another

intransitive verb

1
: to meet and cross at a point
lines intersecting at right angles
2
: to share a common area : overlap
where morality and self-interest intersect

Synonyms of intersect

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Examples of intersect in a Sentence

A dry stream bed intersects the trail in several places. Line A intersects with line B. The two roads intersect at the edge of town.
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.
Years later, in 2030, his story intersects with that of his daughter, who makes her own pilgrimage to the Arctic Circle amidst political and environmental upheaval. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2026 The island has long been home to skilled ceramicists, textile makers, glassblowers, and leatherworkers, but these practices are increasingly intersecting with a more contemporary design sensibility. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026 Their lives have intersected over the years in Hollywood and beyond as their careers evolved. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 Political stratagems in art were shifting in places like New York and Los Angeles, and the Pictures Generation’s ethos began to speak to young Black and brown artists, ultimately intersecting with their desire for representation. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for intersect

Word History

Etymology

Latin intersectus, past participle of intersecare, from inter- + secare to cut — more at saw

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of intersect was in 1615

Rhymes for intersect

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Browse Nearby Words

interseamed
intersect
intersectant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intersect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intersect. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

intersect

verb
in·​ter·​sect ˌint-ər-ˈsekt How to pronounce intersect (audio)
1
: to divide by passing through or across : cross
one line intersecting another
2
: to meet and cross at one or more points
overlapping circles intersect at two points
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