To cross-examine means to question someone carefully and strategically to test whether their story holds up or to reveal weaknesses in what they've said. In courtrooms, lawyers cross-examine witnesses from the opposing side, asking pointed questions to expose contradictions, gaps, or mistakes in their testimony.

Imagine a detective cross-examining a suspect about where they were last Tuesday. The detective might ask: “You said you were at the library. What book did you check out? What time did you leave? Did anyone see you there?” Each question builds on the previous answer, looking for inconsistencies or details that don't quite add up.

Cross-examination is a methodical process where the questioner already doubts the story and actively searches for problems in it. A teacher might cross-examine a student who claims their dog ate their homework: “What kind of dog? How big was the homework? Wouldn't the paper make your dog sick?”

The word can also describe any situation where someone faces tough, skeptical questioning. If your friends cross-examine you about why you missed the party, they dig deeper, comparing your answers and checking whether everything you say makes sense.