canvass
verb/ˈkænvəs/
/ˈkænvəs/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they canvass | /ˈkænvəs/ /ˈkænvəs/ |
| he / she / it canvasses | /ˈkænvəsɪz/ /ˈkænvəsɪz/ |
| past simple canvassed | /ˈkænvəst/ /ˈkænvəst/ |
| past participle canvassed | /ˈkænvəst/ /ˈkænvəst/ |
| -ing form canvassing | /ˈkænvəsɪŋ/ /ˈkænvəsɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to ask people to support a particular person, political party, etc., either by going around an area and talking to people or by phoning them
- canvass (for something) He spent the whole month canvassing for votes.
- canvass somebody (for something) Party workers are busy canvassing local residents.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [transitive] to ask people about something in order to find out what they think about it
- canvass something He has been canvassing opinion on the issue.
- canvass somebody (for something) People are being canvassed for their views on the proposed new road.
- [transitive] canvass support to try and get support from a group of people synonym drum up
- [transitive] canvass something to discuss an idea carefully and completely
- The proposal is currently being canvassed.
Word Originearly 16th cent. (‘toss in a canvas sheet’ (in the sense as a sport or punishment)): from canvas. Later extended senses include ‘criticize, discuss’ (mid 16th cent.) and ‘propose for discussion’; hence ‘seek support for’.
Check pronunciation:
canvass