Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

canter

noun (1)
cant·​er | \ ˈkan-tər How to pronounce canter (audio) \

Definition of canter

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: one who uses cant: such as
a : beggar, vagabond
b : a user of professional or religious cant

canter

verb
can·​ter | \ ˈkan-tər How to pronounce canter (audio) \
cantered; cantering; canters

Definition of canter (Entry 2 of 3)

intransitive verb

1 : to move at or as if at a canter : lope
2 : to ride a horse at a canter

transitive verb

: to cause to go at a canter

canter

noun (2)
can·​ter | \ ˈkan-tər How to pronounce canter (audio) \

Definition of canter (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : a 3-beat gait resembling but smoother and slower than the gallop
2 : a ride at a canter

Examples of canter in a Sentence

Verb

 The horses cantered across the grass. We cantered off toward the lake.

First Known Use of canter

Noun (1)

1609, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1706, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for canter

Verb

short for obsolete canterbury, noun (canter), from Canterbury, England; from the supposed gait of pilgrims riding to Canterbury

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about canter

Statistics for canter

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for canter

The first known use of canter was in 1609

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for canter

canter

verb
How to pronounce canter (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of canter

of a horse : to run fairly fast : to run at a canter
: to ride on a horse that is running fairly fast : to ride a horse at a canter

See the full definition for canter in the English Language Learners Dictionary

canter

noun
can·​ter | \ ˈkan-tər How to pronounce canter (audio) \

Kids Definition of canter

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a horse's gait resembling but slower than a gallop

canter

verb
cantered; cantering

Kids Definition of canter (Entry 2 of 2)

: to run with a movement that resembles but is slower than a gallop Below he saw the Black cantering along the beach.— Walter Farley, The Black Stallion

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on canter

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with canter

Spanish Central: Translation of canter

Nglish: Translation of canter for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of canter for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about canter

Comments on canter

What made you want to look up canter? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

resurrection

Listen to the pronounciation of resurrection

an act or instance of returning to life

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
TRENDING NOW

  1. surveillance Comey comments on Barr's use of 'spy'

  2. cavalier Virginia wins men's championship

  3. redact, redacted Barr discusses release of report

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games