canoe

1 of 3

noun (1)

ca·​noe kə-ˈnü 

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

canoe

2 of 3

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

canoeist

3 of 3

noun (2)

ca·​noe·​ist kə-ˈnü-ist 

plural -s

: one that canoes

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

Officials are asking anyone who has seen Sean Michael Cunningham or his canoe in the last few days to contact them immediately. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 31 July 2026

The trail off that parking lot is wooded and crosses miles of wetlands and river swamp with multiple bridges and places where people can fish, canoe, and kayak. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 30 July 2026

Verb

Authorities say 37-year-old Sean Michael Cunningham had taken cover under a dock on Carter's Lake while canoeing that night. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Visitors especially enjoy paragliding and hang-gliding in the area, as well as canoeing and hiking all around the Valley. — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 28 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1541, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1732, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for canoe

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

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