crossed paths with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "crossed paths with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when two people or things have encountered each other, usually by chance. For example: I recently crossed paths with an old friend from high school.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I crossed paths with Joan Rivers on a few occasions early on in my television career.

Huffington Post

I crossed paths with no one.

The New Yorker

Kazin had crossed paths with Arvin too.

The New Yorker

I've crossed paths with many of my classmates.

Harvard University

I just hadn't crossed paths with him yet".

The New York Times

Some readers will have crossed paths with Sharon before.

The New York Times - Books

I'm honored to have crossed paths with him.

The Guardian - Music

During this period, Dolours crossed paths with Gerry Adams.

The New Yorker

Perhaps his bus crossed paths with Paul Simon's, travelling eastbound.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

"After years and years and years he finally crossed paths with one.

Huffington Post

We had crossed paths with a lone cross-country skier.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crossed paths with" to describe a chance encounter or meeting, especially when emphasizing that the encounter was not planned or expected.

Common error

Avoid using "crossed paths with" to describe scheduled meetings or interactions. This phrase is best suited for unplanned or unexpected encounters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crossed paths with" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action of encountering someone or something. Ludwig examples show it used to describe chance meetings or unexpected interactions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Academia

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "crossed paths with" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe an encounter, often by chance. Ludwig AI confirms this. It functions as a verb phrase, narrating an event where individuals or entities met, as demonstrated by the examples from various sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. The phrase carries a neutral tone, suitable for diverse contexts, with a high frequency in News & Media. Alternatives like "ran into" or "met by chance" offer similar meanings. When using "crossed paths with", it's best to reserve it for unplanned meetings to accurately convey its intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Ran into

Implies a brief and often unplanned meeting.

Came across

A more casual and common way of saying 'met'.

Bumped into

Similar to 'ran into', but can also suggest a physical collision.

Met by chance

Focuses on the accidental nature of the meeting.

Encountered unexpectedly

Highlights the surprise element of the meeting.

Had an encounter with

More formal and emphasizes the event of the meeting.

Interacted with

Focuses on the action of communication or engagement during the meeting.

Collided with

Suggests a more forceful or impactful meeting, either literally or figuratively.

Our paths intertwined

A more poetic way to describe a meeting, suggesting a shared journey.

Our lives intersected

Highlights that people's existence briefly had in common.

FAQs

How to use "crossed paths with" in a sentence?

You can use "crossed paths with" to describe chance encounters. For example, "I "crossed paths with" an old friend at the grocery store" indicates an unplanned meeting.

What can I say instead of "crossed paths with"?

Alternatives include "ran into", "met by chance", or "encountered", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "cross paths with"?

Yes, "cross paths with" is the infinitive form, while "crossed paths with" is the past tense. Both are correct depending on the tense you want to convey.

What's the difference between "crossed paths with" and "met"?

"Met" is a general term for encountering someone. "Crossed paths with" implies the meeting was unplanned or somewhat coincidental. You might say "I met my colleague at the conference", but "I "crossed paths with" a celebrity at a small-town diner".