canyon

noun

can·​yon ˈkan-yən How to pronounce canyon (audio)
variants or less commonly cañon
1
: a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it
2
: something resembling a canyon
the city's concrete canyons

Examples of canyon in a Sentence

as the scouts made their way through the canyon, they marveled at the sheer walls of rock on both sides
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.
That initial drive was merely the opening act for the hike-able mesas, canyons, and sky-high sandstone beyond the visitor center gates. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2025 The octopus inhabits underwater canyons at depths of 3,400 to 5,000 feet. Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025 Colombia is home to some of the most biodiverse lands on the planet: mountainous coffee farms, arid desert canyons, low grasslands, Amazonian jungles, coastal rainforests, and beautiful beaches. Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 15 May 2025 The researchers also revealed that certain deep-sea topographical features, like canyons and ridges, have attracted much more scientific attention than abyssal plains and seamounts. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for canyon

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish cañón, probably alteration of obsolete Spanish callón, augmentative of calle street, from Latin callis footpath

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of canyon was in 1834

Cite this Entry

“Canyon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canyon. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

canyon

noun
can·​yon
variants also cañon
ˈkan-yən
: a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it

More from Merriam-Webster on canyon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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