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

The 2028 Games will be spread throughout Southern California and stretch as far south as Temecula — about 90 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles — and as far east as Oklahoma City, about 1,300 miles away, where softball and canoe slalom will be held. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025

For now, the skeleton of a female humpback whale is laid out on the floor of the lighthouse, and three canoes are propped up in one wing of the old building. —John Bartlett, NPR, 12 Jan. 2025

Verb

Visitors can enjoy canoeing, bird watching, and engaging with local communities. —Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025

Older kids and teenagers often enjoy spear-throwing with a Maasai warrior, horseback riding, hot-air balloon rides, and canoeing in the Okavango Delta. —Maija De Rijk-Uys, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 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