canvassing

variants also canvasing
Definition of canvassingnext
present participle of canvass
1
as in interviewing
to go around and approach (people) with a request for opinions or information we canvassed people all over town, asking if they would be interested in participating in a recycling program

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of canvassing Officers remain on scene canvassing the area, gathering evidence, and interviewing witnesses. Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026 Detectives canvassing the neighborhood learned Arechiga had been seen at the residence earlier in the day. Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026 After canvassing, the NBA didn’t appear to drum up much interest or any bidding war on the trade market. Zach Harper, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026 Clouse said investigators spent four days processing the Arizona home and canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses, surveillance video and other evidence. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025 Hundreds of officers from across nine federal and local law enforcement agencies have been intensely canvassing that area, Perez said, adding that investigators are seeking the public's help to get more video of the area from any time on the day of the shooting. Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025 Police are now canvassing the area around the school looking to obtain video footage from home owners in the area. Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025 Former Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin joined canvassing efforts for Behn in recent weeks. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2025 Homicide detectives were called to the scene to investigate and were interviewing witnesses and canvassing the area for security video. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canvassing
Verb
  • Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that three AFC teams have contacted the Rams about interviewing Scheelhaase for their head-coaching vacancy.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The team has been interviewing myriad candidates since.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The audio, obtained by TMZ, includes Moore's wife Kelli discussing Moore's condition with police operators after Moore was fired from his position in December.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Hunt was just as optimistic as his coach when discussing the prospects of playing his first game since September, too.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Parrish stood at the wheel, his gimlet eyes surveying the water beneath a threadbare Pink Floyd cap.
    Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Video posted on social media showed a resident surveying the damage by kayak.
    Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Opposite a serene Rooney Mara and a raging Claire Foy, Buckley is a lone dissenting voice in Sarah Polley’s heart-wrenching portrait of a group of women and girls in an isolated Mennonite colony who are debating how to respond to a series of brutal attacks from the men in their community.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Many Americans are debating whether the shooting was justified after videos taken by bystanders and cellphone footage from the officer were released, leading to protests around the country.
    Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Trump has openly lobbied for the Nobel Peace Prize, arguing that his actions have helped resolve multiple international conflicts, claims that have drawn public backing from several world leaders.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Prosecutors deny Bondi has conflict of interest Federal prosecutors slammed the defense's claims as meritless and misleading, arguing there is no conflict of interest with the attorney general because there is no present or future financial gain.
    Christina Fan, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Canvassing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canvassing. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on canvassing

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!