variants
or less commonly canvas
canvassed; canvassing
1
: to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments
canvass voters
canvassed the neighborhood to solicit magazine subscriptions
2
3
obsolete
: to toss in a canvas sheet in sport or punishment
: to seek orders or votes : solicit
was canvassing for a seat in Congress
canvasser
noun
or less commonly canvaser
variants
or less commonly canvas
: the act or an instance of canvassing
especially
: a personal solicitation of votes or survey of public opinion
a house-to-house canvass to ascertain the vote before the election
Examples of canvass in a Sentence
Verb
A team of volunteers is canvassing the city for the Republican Party.
We go to every house to canvass voters.
She is canvassing for one of the presidential candidates this year.
The group has been canvassing neighborhoods to ask people to vote for him.
The company canvassed several sites for a new factory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
In their investigation, police obtained security footage and canvassed the surrounding area, authorities said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
This year, 34 local artists were turned loose to create unique works of art with blank ceramic skulls as their canvasses.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canvass
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Hundreds of volunteers combed fields and streets, posting fliers and canvassing neighborhoods, their eyes peeled for any sign of the small blonde girl.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
In their investigation, police obtained security footage and canvassed the surrounding area, authorities said.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
The middle frames offered dueling canvasses for the starting pitchers.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
This year, 34 local artists were turned loose to create unique works of art with blank ceramic skulls as their canvasses.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for canvass
Cite this Entry
“Canvass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canvass. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
canvass
1 of 2 verb
can·vass
ˈkan-vəs 
: to go through (a district) or go to (people) to ask for votes, contributions, or orders or to determine public opinion
canvasser
noun
canvass
2 of 2 noun
: an act of canvassing
Legal Definition
canvass
verb
can·vass
variants
also canvas
canvassed also canvased; canvassing also canvasing
1
a
: to examine in detail
specifically
: to examine (votes) officially for authenticity
b
: to make the subject of discussion or debate
2
: to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments
: to seek or solicit orders or votes
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