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

The area is sparsely populated with private estates set atop hills or within canyons, making firefighting access difficult. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

By morning, firefighting aircraft were back in the air dropping water on the Bryson fire in Malibu while the sound of generators purchased by outage-weary residents and business owners buzzed through the canyons. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

When a dog bolts into a canyon or vanishes under heavy tree cover, most tracking collars lose the signal. — Joe Mullich, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Among the highlights is a fireside living room leading to a family room that opens out to a canyon-view patio donning a red-brick surface. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 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