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

According to state officials, the property features steep canyons, limestone cliffs, rolling hills, and long stretches of the West Nueces River, all centered around a spring‑fed 30‑acre lake. —Doug Myers, CBS News, 28 May 2026

As its name suggests, this pool is nestled in a canyon above UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium, where its blue water sparkles amid the green forest. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

This is a 3,000-acre working farm, and the landscape varies from pastures to forest to river canyon, all abutting the sea. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2026

Pilots can cut down the left or right canyons, go up over the rock bluffs or down into a Krayt dragon tunnel. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 26 May 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