cranny

noun

cran·​ny ˈkra-nē How to pronounce cranny (audio)
plural crannies
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.
Never fear, there are still plenty of nooks and crannies to hold your butter, maple syrup, fruit, and other toppings. Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025 The right bathroom organizer, whether a freestanding cart or an in-shower shelving system, can set aside nooks and crannies for every component of your 12-step hair care routine. Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 24 Sep. 2025 Instead of stripping your skin, the new technology does the opposite, cramming nourishers and moisturizing ingredients into microscopic nano-size droplets that nudge themselves into the nooks and crannies of your skin. Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 The in-game map also purposefully obscures some of the game's secret nooks and crannies, which can only be found with careful observation (or a handy walkthrough). ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025 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 27 Sep. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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