Canvass — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈkan-vəs/ can·vass

Meaning & Definition of Canvass

Canvass (verb)

  1. to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments
  2. to examine in detail; specifically, to examine (votes) officially for authenticity
  3. discuss, debate

Canvass (noun)

  1. the act or an instance of canvassing; especially, a personal solicitation of votes or survey of public opinion

Canvass (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: interview, poll, solicit, survey
    related: circularize, interrogate, question, feel (out), sound (out)
    near: report

  2. to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion

    "canvassed all the items on the agenda"

    similar: agitate, argue, bandy, bat (around or back and forth), debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over or out), moot, talk over
    related: review, speak (about), talk (about), broach, introduce, propound, raise, stir up, forge, hammer out, talk out, thrash (out), wrestle (with), chew over, consider, deliberate, weigh

Related Entry: Canvas (noun)

Canvas is a different word from Canvass. The synonyms below are for canvas, not for canvass.

  1. a picture created with oil paint

    "one canvas by Picasso is worth more money than most of us can imagine"

    similar: oil, oil painting, painting
    related: fresco, mural, panorama, diptych, triptych, acrylic, aquarelle, gouache, watercolor, distemper, drawing, etching, finger painting, pastel, sketch, tempera, masterpiece, pièce de résistance, showpiece

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Canvass

The most common words with a similar meaning to Canvass:

interview, poll, solicit, survey, agitate, argue, bandy, bat (around or back and forth), debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over or out), moot, talk over

Related Words for Canvass

circularize, interrogate, question, feel (out), sound (out), review, speak (about), talk (about), broach, introduce, propound, raise, stir up, forge, hammer out, talk out, thrash (out), wrestle (with), chew over, consider, deliberate, weigh

Near Antonyms of Canvass

report

Word Forms of Canvass

Inflections: canvassed, canvassing

Derived words: canvasser (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Canvass

First known use: 1508t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Canvass

Frequently Asked Questions about Canvass

What does "Canvass" mean?

"Canvass" means to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Canvass"?

Other words for "Canvass" include interview, poll, solicit, survey, agitate, argue, bandy and bat (around or back and forth). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Canvass" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Canvass"?

There are 36 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Canvass". Common alternatives include interview, poll, solicit, survey, agitate, argue, bandy, bat (around or back and forth), debate and discuss.

How do you use "Canvass" in a sentence?

Examples of "Canvass" in a sentence: "we canvassed people all over town, asking if they would be interested in participating in a recycling program"; "canvassed all the items on the agenda".

Is "Canvass" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Canvass" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Canvass" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Canvass" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Canvass"?

"Canvass" is pronounced /ˈkan-vəs/ and divided into syllables as can·vass.

What is the origin of the word "Canvass"?

First known use: 1508t.