Synonyms for

Canal

Verb / kʌˈnæl / Another word for canal — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a man-made waterway used for transportation or irrigation

Synonyms & similar words

epithelialduct channel duct canalize canalise waterway channel ditch conduit aqueduct raceway flume gutter trench drain pipe sewer culvert passage lock sluice millrace spillway outlet inlet

Synonyms by register

Formal

channel aqueduct waterway conduit

Informal

ditch trench

Literary

watercourse channel

Antonyms

natural river stream brook creek waterway

Common collocations

  • artificial canal
  • ship canal
  • irrigation canal
  • Grand Canal
  • Suez Canal
  • Panama Canal
  • canal boat
  • canal lock

Word family

noun canal
verb canalize

Usage note

A canal is typically an artificial waterway. The verb 'canalize' means to convert into a canal or to direct into a channel.

Example sentences

  1. The canal was used to transport goods from one city to another.
  2. The farmer used the canal to irrigate his crops.
  3. The boat had to wait for the lock to open so it could pass through the canal.
  4. The city built a new canal to control flooding.
  5. The canal was too narrow for the large ship to pass through.

Quotes

  • The geography of the world is changing. The mountains are becoming valleys and the valleys are becoming canals. - John Ashbery
  • A canal is a small river that joins two big ones. - Artemus Ward
  • The canal system has been a major contributor to our economic growth, transporting goods that have helped build a more prosperous America. - Leonard Boswell

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