I recently went for a hike up a gorge and then down a ravine. What is the difference between a gorge and a ravine? And how does canyon fit in?

My impression was that there was an implied scale, where a ravine is smaller than a gorge, which is smaller than a canyon.

All of these geographical features seem to be created in the same way: a river or stream eroding hard rocky material, giving steep sides.

Looking at Wikipedia, there are entries for both "ravine" and "canyon". "Gorge" redirects to "canyon". It seems to imply that all three words can be used interchangeably. But are there some technical differences between these words to inform their usage?

Edit: adding definitions

Oxford English dictionary definitions:

gorge: A narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it.

ravine: A deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.

canyon: A deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it, as found in North America.

gully: (1) A ravine formed by the action of water; or (2) A deep artificial channel serving as a gutter or drain.

Cambridge English dictionary:

gorge: a deep, narrow valley with steep sides, usually formed by a river or stream cutting through hard rock

ravine: a deep narrow valley with steep sides

canyon: a large valley with very steep sides and usually a river flowing along the bottom

gully: (1) a narrow valley or channel with steep sides, made by a fast-flowing stream; or (2) an artificial channel that is used to get rid of water that is not wanted

Merriam-Webster English dictionary:

gorge: a narrow passage through land especially: a narrow steep-walled canyon or part of a canyon

ravine: a small narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon and that is usually worn by running water

canyon: a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it

gully: (1) a trench which was originally worn in the earth by running water and through which water often runs after rains; or (2) a small valley or gulch

The definition of canyon from Cambridge seems to fit the best, considering the large size of the Grand Canyon, or Fish River Canyon. Merriam-Webster seems to agree that a ravine is smaller than a canyon, and also seems to define gorge as a smaller canyon. Overall, given these definitions, I would use canyon for the largest land-forms, and gully for the smallest ones. Gorge and ravine seem like they could be used interchangeably.

I recently went for a hike up a gorge and then down a ravine. What is the difference between a gorge and a ravine? And how does canyon fit in?

My impression was that there was an implied scale, where a ravine is smaller than a gorge, which is smaller than a canyon.

All of these geographical features seem to be created in the same way: a river or stream eroding hard rocky material, giving steep sides.

Looking at Wikipedia, there are entries for both "ravine" and "canyon". "Gorge" redirects to "canyon". It seems to imply that all three words can be used interchangeably. But are there some technical differences between these words to inform their usage?

Edit: adding definitions

Oxford Living English dictionary definitions: (edit: thanks Mitch)

gorge: A narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it.

ravine: A deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.

canyon: A deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it, as found in North America.

gully: (1) A ravine formed by the action of water; or (2) A deep artificial channel serving as a gutter or drain.

Cambridge English dictionary:

gorge: a deep, narrow valley with steep sides, usually formed by a river or stream cutting through hard rock

ravine: a deep narrow valley with steep sides

canyon: a large valley with very steep sides and usually a river flowing along the bottom

gully: (1) a narrow valley or channel with steep sides, made by a fast-flowing stream; or (2) an artificial channel that is used to get rid of water that is not wanted

Merriam-Webster English dictionary:

gorge: a narrow passage through land especially: a narrow steep-walled canyon or part of a canyon

ravine: a small narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon and that is usually worn by running water

canyon: a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it

gully: (1) a trench which was originally worn in the earth by running water and through which water often runs after rains; or (2) a small valley or gulch

The definition of canyon from Cambridge seems to fit the best, considering the large size of the Grand Canyon, or Fish River Canyon. Merriam-Webster seems to agree that a ravine is smaller than a canyon, and also seems to define gorge as a smaller canyon. Overall, given these definitions, I would use canyon for the largest land-forms, and gully for the smallest ones. Gorge and ravine seem like they could be used interchangeably.

I recently went for a hike up a gorge and then down a ravine. What is the difference between a gorge and a ravine? And how does canyon fit in?

My impression was that there was an implied scale, where a ravine is smaller than a gorge, which is smaller than a canyon.

All of these geographical features seem to be created in the same way: a river or stream eroding hard rocky material, giving steep sides.

Looking at Wikipedia, there are entries for both "ravine" and "canyon". "Gorge" redirects to "canyon". It seems to imply that all three words can be used interchangeably. But are there some technical differences between these words to inform their usage?

I recently went for a hike up a gorge and then down a ravine. What is the difference between a gorge and a ravine? And how does canyon fit in?

My impression was that there was an implied scale, where a ravine is smaller than a gorge, which is smaller than a canyon.

All of these geographical features seem to be created in the same way: a river or stream eroding hard rocky material, giving steep sides.

Looking at Wikipedia, there are entries for both "ravine" and "canyon". "Gorge" redirects to "canyon". It seems to imply that all three words can be used interchangeably. But are there some technical differences between these words to inform their usage?

Edit: adding definitions

Oxford English dictionary definitions:

gorge: A narrow valley between hills or mountains, typically with steep rocky walls and a stream running through it.

ravine: A deep, narrow gorge with steep sides.

canyon: A deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it, as found in North America.

gully: (1) A ravine formed by the action of water; or (2) A deep artificial channel serving as a gutter or drain.

Cambridge English dictionary:

gorge: a deep, narrow valley with steep sides, usually formed by a river or stream cutting through hard rock

ravine: a deep narrow valley with steep sides

canyon: a large valley with very steep sides and usually a river flowing along the bottom

gully: (1) a narrow valley or channel with steep sides, made by a fast-flowing stream; or (2) an artificial channel that is used to get rid of water that is not wanted

Merriam-Webster English dictionary:

gorge: a narrow passage through land especially: a narrow steep-walled canyon or part of a canyon

ravine: a small narrow steep-sided valley that is larger than a gully and smaller than a canyon and that is usually worn by running water

canyon: a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it

gully: (1) a trench which was originally worn in the earth by running water and through which water often runs after rains; or (2) a small valley or gulch

The definition of canyon from Cambridge seems to fit the best, considering the large size of the Grand Canyon, or Fish River Canyon. Merriam-Webster seems to agree that a ravine is smaller than a canyon, and also seems to define gorge as a smaller canyon. Overall, given these definitions, I would use canyon for the largest land-forms, and gully for the smallest ones. Gorge and ravine seem like they could be used interchangeably.