noun
awning
AW-nihng
Awning (noun) means a sheet of canvas or similar material fixed over a window, door, or deck to give shelter from sun or rain. Example: “The café pulled out its striped awning as the sun grew stronger.”
noun
1
A sheet of canvas or similar material fixed over a window, door, or deck to give shelter from sun or rain.
"At Nairobi the mail waits an hour-and-a-half. The station has three long platforms, mostly covered in awnings, the island connected with the main platform (which is used by the mails in both directions) by a subway."
— Timothy H. Cobb, The Kenya-Uganda Railway (1950)
"The café pulled out its striped awning as the sun grew stronger."
"A few hundred yards across the pampa from where Chilean soldiers patrol the boundary, stern-faced, the Peruvian border police sit under wind-torn blue awnings, eyeing the Chileans warily."
— John Bartlett, Chile's MAGA-inspired border control (2026)
How to use awning
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fixed canopy over a window or doorway that gives shade or shelter.
Common pairings
striped awning
retractable awning
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Word forms
- Plural
- awnings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The café pulled out its striped _____ as the sun grew stronger.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; likely from a nautical term related to Middle French auvans, "sloping roof".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for awning
See all rhymes for awning →Frequently asked questions
What does “awning” mean?
The word “awning” means a sheet of canvas or similar material fixed over a window, door, or deck to give shelter from sun or rain. In plain terms, a fixed canopy over a window or doorway that gives shade or shelter.
How do you pronounce “awning”?
“Awning” is pronounced AW-nihng (/ˈɔnɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “awning” in a sentence?
Here is “awning” used in a sentence: “The café pulled out its striped awning as the sun grew stronger.”
What part of speech is “awning”?
“Awning” is a noun.
Where does the word “awning” come from?
The word “awning” comes from Middle French. Origin uncertain; likely from a nautical term related to Middle French auvans, "sloping roof".
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