awning
Americannoun
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a rooflike shelter of canvas or other material extending over a doorway, from the top of a window, over a deck, etc., in order to provide protection, as from the sun.
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a shelter.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of awning
First recorded in 1615–25; origin uncertain
Explanation
An awning is a covering that's like a roof or extends from a roof. If you walk down a street with a lot of stores and it starts raining, you'll probably try to stay under the awnings. An awning provides shelter from rain and sun. You will often see awnings extending over the entryways of businesses. Under an awning is a place you can hang out as you collapse your umbrella on your way in, or as you open your umbrella on your way out. Awnings are often made from some type of canvas, and they protrude from the top of the store or building, kind of like the brim of a cap, which has a similar function.
Vocabulary lists containing awning
The First Rule of Punk
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From the Desk of Zoe Washington
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The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"The signboard and the awning at the front could be blown off. If the winds get stronger, we'll bring everything inside."
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
Under one straw awning, Noureldin leaned on a crutch, still weak from his injuries.
From Barron's ● Mar. 22, 2026
A black-and-white awning over the steps that lead to our front door, for rain and sun protection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
Plug sockets were available under a separate awning for charging phones.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2024
This intersection Willem and I have chosen—this overhanging awning and this plaster cow—it's more than one kilometer from the Muiderpoort station.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
The father of a friend of mine, who owned a franchise for a company that sold aluminum awnings, qualified as a borax man.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
Canopies and awnings are subject to onerous permitting rules.
From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2025
And figures, clambering over broken buildings, moving along streets of dirt, where food markets are springing up under tin roofs and canvas awnings.
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2025
Keep in mind that buildings, awnings, trees and sheers can decrease the amount of sunlight reaching the plants.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 20, 2024
Food stands line the street, with blue and orange awnings and wooden stools and plastic chairs and heaps of salads and steaming meats on display.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
