canoe

1 of 2

noun

ca·​noe kə-ˈnü 

: a light narrow boat with both ends sharp that is usually propelled by paddling

canoe

2 of 2

verb

canoed; canoeing

transitive verb

: to transport in a canoe

also : to travel by canoe down (a river)

intransitive verb

: to go or travel in a canoe

canoeable

kə-ˈnü-ə-bəl 

adjective

canoeist

kə-ˈnü-ist 

noun

canoer

kə-ˈnü-ər 

noun

Examples of canoe in a Sentence

Verb

He canoed down the river to the camp.

They canoed part of the Colorado River this summer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Isle Royale National Park is also known for its plentiful hiking and boating, with over 165 miles of hiking trails and myriad islands, bays, lakes, and waterways that can be explored by kayak or canoe. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2024

Canoe Sprint: The U.S. has a reasonable shot in the women’s canoe single 200 meters as Nevin Harrison won her heat and holds the Olympic record in this event from Tokyo. —John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2024

Verb

Paint yourself into the scenery today by kayaking or canoeing the Delaware River thanks to Bucks County River Country rentals. —Jackie Caradonio, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2024

Embracing the Water in Catskills There’s kayaking, stand up paddle board and canoeing in the Catskills, but for those looking for something a little different there’s also the Hobie Mirage Eclipse a unique way to experience the water. —Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from New Latin canoa, from Spanish, from Arawakan, of Cariban origin; akin to Carib kana:wa canoe

First Known Use

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1794, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

canoe

1 of 2 noun

ca·​noe kə-ˈnü 

: a long light narrow boat with pointed ends and curved sides that is usually moved by someone using a paddle

canoe

2 of 2 verb

canoed; canoeing

: to travel or carry in a canoe

canoeist

-ˈnü-əst 

noun