canyon

noun

can·​yon ˈkan-yən 

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

Synonyms of canyon

• ravine
• gorge
• valley

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

Los Alamos, not far from Santa Fe, sits at the foot of Pajarito Mountain in a land of canyons and mesas. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Dropping off the ridges into the canyons was like descending into a furnace. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Guests have access to a vast network of solid rock trails for mountain biking that twist and turn through dry forest and a thermal canyon, and can spike their adrenaline by whitewater rafting on the Tenorio River. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 24 Aug. 2026

Overlook Park also has access to walking trails that will enter the canyon. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026

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

Rhymes for canyon

• anion
• banyan
• carbanion
• companion

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