canvass
verb (used with object)
to solicit votes, subscriptions, opinions, or the like from.
were canvassing
-
past progressiveof canvass.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Long before the Supreme Court handed down the landmark Obergefell ruling on equal marriage in 2015, activists were canvassing door to door, courting any lawmaker who would listen, and losing at the local level—a lot.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2026
David Sheppard and Avante Brown were canvassing residents for a solar company recently when they stumbled onto the atom smasher.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2025
On Sunday, the day after the shooting, federal agents detained Mr Eaton as they were canvassing in the area.
From BBC ● Nov. 27, 2023
The sheriff said that detectives were canvassing the county for more information and that they were using aircraft to search for evidence.
From New York Times ● Oct. 4, 2022
The trial continued two weeks; the interest increased in intensity, and the public were canvassing testimony as fast as it was published, as though life and death to thousands hinged upon the verdict.
From The Continental Monthly, Vol. 1, No. 1, January 1862 Devoted to Literature and National Policy by Various
