cranny

noun

cran·​ny ˈkra-nē How to pronounce cranny (audio)
plural crannies
Synonyms of crannynext
1
: a small break or slit : crevice
2
: an obscure nook or corner
crannied adjective

Examples of cranny in a Sentence

We saw strange, colorful creatures in the crannies of the reef while scuba diving. We explored every cranny of the old castle.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There’s fountains, small areas to climb, and concealed nooks and crannies. Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 9 Apr. 2026 Inside, about a half dozen customers sipped coffee in various nooks and crannies of the store. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026 What truly sets it apart is the Corner Rover Arm, a unique extendable side brush that reaches into the nooks and crannies where pet hair typically hides. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026 Water flossers blast away plaque from teeth, including between nooks and crannies that are hard to reach with regular floss and picks. Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cranny

Word History

Etymology

Middle English crany, from Middle French cren, cran notch

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cranny was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cranny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranny. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

cranny

noun
cran·​ny ˈkran-ē How to pronounce cranny (audio)
plural crannies
: a small break or slit (as in a cliff)

More from Merriam-Webster on cranny

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster