bar
noun
a relatively long, evenly shaped piece of some solid substance, as metal or wood, used as a guard or obstruction or for some mechanical purpose.
bar
1 American
[bahr]
/ bɑr /
noun
-
a relatively long, evenly shaped piece of some solid substance, as metal or wood, used as a guard or obstruction or for some mechanical purpose.
the bars of a cage.
-
an oblong piece of any solid material.
a bar of soap;
a candy bar.
-
the amount of material in a bar.
-
an ingot, lump, or wedge of gold or silver.
-
a long ridge of sand, gravel, or other material near or slightly above the surface of the water at or near the mouth of a river or harbor entrance, often constituting an obstruction to navigation.
-
anything that obstructs, hinders, or impedes; obstacle; barrier.
a bar to important legislation.
-
a counter or place where beverages, especially liquors, or light meals are served to customers.
a snack bar;
a milk bar.
- Synonyms:
- cocktail lounge, saloon
-
a barroom or tavern.
-
(in a home) a counter, small wagon, or similar piece of furniture for serving food or beverages.
a breakfast bar.
-
the legal profession.
-
the practicing members of the legal profession in a given community.
-
any tribunal.
the bar of public opinion.
-
a band or strip.
a bar of light.
-
a railing in a courtroom separating the general public from the part of the room occupied by the judges, jury, attorneys, etc.
-
a crowbar.
-
Music.
-
Also called bar line. the line marking the division between two measures of music.
-
the unit of music contained between two bar lines; measure.
-
-
Ballet. barre.
-
Law.
-
an objection that nullifies an action or claim.
-
a stoppage or defeat of an alleged right of action.
-
-
Typography. a horizontal stroke of a type character, as of an A, H, t, and sometimes e.
-
Architecture. (in tracery) a relatively long and slender upright of stone treated as a colonette or molded.
-
Building Trades.
-
an iron or steel shape.
I-bar.
-
a muntin.
-
-
Military. one of a pair of metal or cloth insignia worn by certain commissioned officers.
-
bars, the transverse ridges on the roof of the mouth of a horse.
-
a space between the molar and canine teeth of a horse into which the bit is fitted.
-
(in a bridle) the mouthpiece connecting the cheeks.
-
Heraldry. a horizontal band, narrower than a fess, that crosses the field of an escutcheon.
-
Obsolete. a gateway capable of being barred.
verb (used with object)
-
bars,
present (3rd person singular)
-
barred,
past participle, past
-
barring
present participle
-
to equip or fasten with a bar or bars.
Bar the door before retiring for the night.
-
to block by or as if by bars.
The police barred the exits in an attempt to prevent the thief 's escape.
-
to prevent or hinder.
They barred her entrance to the club.
-
to exclude or except.
He was barred from membership because of his reputation.
- Synonyms:
- drop
-
to mark with bars, stripes, or bands.
preposition
idioms
-
behind bars, in jail.
We wanted the criminal behind bars.
-
at bar,
-
before the court and being tried.
a case at bar.
-
before all the judges of a court.
a trial at bar.
-
bar
2
American
[bahr]
/ bɑr /
noun
bar
3
American
[bahr]
/ bɑr /
noun
Physics.
-
a centimeter-gram-second unit of pressure, equal to one million dynes per square centimeter.
-
(formerly) microbar. b
BAR
4
American
abbreviation
bar.
5
American
abbreviation
-
barometer.
-
barometric.
-
barrel.
-
barrister.
Bar.
6
American
abbreviation
Bible.
B.Ar.
7
American
abbreviation
Bar-
1
British
/ bɑː, bar /
prefix
bar
2
British
/ bɑː /
noun
BAR
3
British
abbreviation
bar
4
British
/ bɑː /
noun
-
a rigid usually straight length of metal, wood, etc, that is longer than it is wide or thick, used esp as a barrier or as a structural or mechanical part
a bar of a gate
-
a solid usually rectangular block of any material
a bar of soap
-
anything that obstructs or prevents
-
-
an offshore ridge of sand, mud, or shingle lying near the shore and parallel to it, across the mouth of a river, bay, or harbour, or linking an island to the mainland
-
an alluvial deposit in a stream, river, or lake
-
-
a counter or room where alcoholic drinks are served
-
a counter, room, or establishment where a particular range of goods, food, services, etc, are sold
a coffee bar
a heel bar
-
a narrow band or stripe, as of colour or light
-
a heating element in an electric fire
-
(in England) the area in a court of law separating the part reserved for the bench and Queen's Counsel from the area occupied by junior barristers, solicitors, and the general public See also Bar
-
the place in a court of law where the accused stands during his trial
the prisoner at the bar
-
a particular court of law
-
(in the House of Lords and House of Commons) the boundary where nonmembers wishing to address either House appear and where persons are arraigned
-
a plea showing that a plaintiff has no cause of action, as when the case has already been adjudicated upon or the time allowed for bringing the action has passed
-
anything referred to as an authority or tribunal
the bar of decency
-
Also called: measure. music
-
a group of beats that is repeated with a consistent rhythm throughout a piece or passage of music. The number of beats in the bar is indicated by the time signature
-
another word for bar line
-
-
-
insignia added to a decoration indicating a second award
-
a strip of metal worn with uniform, esp to signify rank or as an award for service
-
-
a variant spelling of barre
-
sport See crossbar
-
gymnastics See horizontal bar
-
-
part of the metal mouthpiece of a horse's bridle
-
the space between the horse's teeth in which such a part fits
-
-
either of two horny extensions that project forwards and inwards from the rear of the outer layer of a horse's hoof
-
See crowbar glazing-bar
-
lacemaking needlework another name for bride 2
-
heraldry an ordinary consisting of a horizontal line across a shield, typically narrower than a fesse, and usually appearing in twos or threes
-
maths a superscript line ⁻ placed over a letter symbol to indicate, for example, a mean value or the complex conjugate of a complex number
-
in prison
-
informal cannot tolerate; dislike
verb
-
to fasten or secure with a bar
to bar the door
-
to shut in or out with or as if with barriers
to bar the entrances
-
to obstruct; hinder
the fallen tree barred the road
-
(usually foll by from) to prohibit; forbid
to bar a couple from meeting
-
(usually foll by from) to keep out; exclude
to bar a person from membership
-
to mark with a bar or bars
-
law to prevent or halt (an action) by showing that the claimant has no cause
-
to mark off (music) into bars with bar lines
preposition
-
except for
the best recital bar last night's
-
without exception
bar.
5
British
abbreviation
-
barometer
-
barometric
-
barrel (container or unit of measure)
-
barrister
bar
6
British
/ bɑː /
noun
interjection
Bar
7
British
/ bɑː /
noun
-
(in England and elsewhere) barristers collectively
-
the legal profession collectively
-
to become a barrister
-
to be appointed as a Queen's Counsel
bar
Scientific
/ bär /
-
A unit used to measure atmospheric pressure. It is equal to a force of 100,000 newtons per square meter of surface area, or 0.987 atmosphere.
-
An elongated, offshore ridge of sand, gravel, or other unconsolidated sediment, formed by the action of waves or long-shore currents and submerged at least during high tide. Bars are especially common near the mouths of rivers or estuaries.
-
A ridgelike mound of sand, gravel or silt formed within a stream, along its banks, or at its mouth. Bars form where the stream's current slows down, causing sediment to be deposited.
bar
More Idioms
Synonym Usage
Bar, barrier, barricade mean something put in the way of advance. Bar has the general meaning of hindrance or obstruction: a bar across the doorway. Barrier suggests an impediment to progress or a defensive obstruction (natural or artificial): a trade barrier; a mountain barrier; a road barrier. A barricade is especially a pile of articles hastily gathered or a rude earthwork for protection in street fighting: a barricade of wooden boxes.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
barsimple
-
barssimple
-
have barredperfect
-
has barredperfect
-
am barringprogressive
-
are barringprogressive
-
is barringprogressive
-
have been barringperfect progressive
-
has been barringperfect progressive
Past
-
barredsimple
-
had barredperfect
-
was barringprogressive
-
were barringprogressive
-
had been barringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bar1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English barre, barr, bar, from Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin barra “rod,” of obscure, perhaps pre-Latin, origin
Origin of bar2
First recorded in 1770–80; from Louisiana French bère, baire, apparently representing dialect pronunciation of French barre “barrier, rod”; see bar 1
Origin of bar3
First recorded in 1900–05; from Greek báros “weight”; cf. barometer, isobar
Explanation
If you bar a college student from entering a bar because he's too young to drink, it means that you prevent him from going into an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages. Bar is one of those handy words with many different meanings. There's the kind of bar where you order coffee or a drink. There is also the bar that a bartender keeps close at hand in case she needs a weapon when patrons get rowdy — like a long piece of metal. And when you bar something, you make it inaccessible in some way. The word bar comes from the French word barre, which means "beam, gate, or barrier."
Vocabulary lists containing bar
The Search Is Over: Synonyms for "Stop"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Graham's Top 50 Words, in terms of relevance
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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 man from the cab—who has left Chicago to live in California, and has traveled back home—walks into the bar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Far from a traditional agricultural structure, the barn has been transformed into an entertainment and creative hub, complete with a grand bar, video wall, fireplaces, a game room, gym, and catering kitchen.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
I go to an early happy hour, sit at the bar and talk to people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
Anthropic on Thursday moved to bar users from treating its Claude AI system with needless cruelty, amid a growing philosophical debate over whether artificial intelligence can be conscious.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
I open the freezer and pull out a tub of Heath bar brownie ice cream.
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
During his distinguished career, he looked after the culinary needs of some of the world's top drivers, working for Tyrrell, Jordan, BAR, Force India, Brawn, McLaren, Red Bull and Toro Rosso.
From BBC ● Dec. 28, 2023
John Cooper, who runs BAR, says that by 2025, he expects half of new cargo ships to come with some sort of wind power.
From NewsForKids.net ● Sep. 6, 2023
“These components will have to pass a BAR inspection with a certified state inspector and these vehicles will either need to be confirmed or corrected so that they’re street legal.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2023
“This has happened in the past. I just happened to be there when it happened to Jenson Button, when he signed for Williams but BAR Honda rightfully took up their option on Jenson,” he said.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 27, 2022
BAR HARBOR, a well-known summer resort of Hancock county, Maine, U.S.A., an unincorporated village, in the township of Eden, on Frenchman's Bay, on the E. side of Mount Desert Island, about 45 m.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3 "Banks" to "Bassoon" by Various
Something like, “They did a good job, but $200 or $500 max would be enough for such a job; $2,000 sets a high bar. It’s a lot of money.”
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
ChatGPT calls it a “corporate intern with a search bar. It doesn’t write essays. It produces deliverables. If Claude is anxious to be ethical, Gemini is anxious to be useful to a product manager.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
"At the very least, I expect England to have their second-best Ashes since 1990, which is, admittedly, an almost subterraneanly low bar. And I may reassess after 0.5 seconds of the series. Again."
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 2025
“That is an incredibly high bar. But obviously, signing Shohei, and what that potentially means as we look out, definitely increases the chances of that.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2024
“I don’t really think Brandon would give up calling me Baby Mouse in exchange for an ice cream bar. Do you?”
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
“First meeting the Primal Scream boys at the Milk Bar. Hot Soho streets and cold glasses of beer.”
From The Guardian ● Jul. 7, 2020
“The night was called Rattenbar: Rat Bar. And there he was,” Tillmans has said.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 3, 2018
“There he is, Bar. Terry. He’s the one,” Bush playfully told his wife.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 18, 2018
“There were always 15 to 20 people around in front of the Water Bar. You would have thought they were drinking vodka martinis or something,” said Steve Drew, director of Greensboro’s water system.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 20, 2016
Bar. was a friend of his, and that it is the prince’s eyes that meet with his.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
To check his memory, Bar- ton asked if there had been a telephone in the White House office.
From Time Magazine Archive
Bar- raged by questions about rising interest rates, living costs and labor demands, he replied: "You don't expect us to walk across the street and tell you fellows that things are bad, do you?"
From Time Magazine Archive
Or will it be someone I would never suspect, Ser Bar- ristan or Grey Worm or Missandei?
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
A special prize was given every year to Miss Katherine Bar- low for her fabulous spiced peaches.
From "Holes" by Louis Sachar
Actually, Stanley had been impressed when he first found out that his great-grandfather was robbed by Kissin' Kate Bar- low.
From "Holes" by Louis Sachar
If you want something more casual, the sidewalk terrace at Bar Pitti is fantastic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The Lesbian Bar Project reports that only 36 remain open in the U.S., and while trans women are welcome in these spaces, none of these bars specifically cater to them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Charlie Zhang, 30, a charity fundraiser who was canvassing for donations near Bar Roma, said he was trying to bounce back after getting into credit-card debt and declaring bankruptcy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Andrew Thomas KC - chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, which represents barristers who work in crown and magistrates courts - said the profession was "delighted".
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
But the Pickwells persisted, and when they reached Marshall Street, Mars Bar commanded, “Stay here,” and stepped into the traffic.
From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli
At the trial—held ahead of the first official games, which will take place in New York in November—competitors chatted excitedly while snacking on bananas and protein bars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
And I thought college students only lied about their ages to get into bars.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Dean loves working Trans*cendent because it reminds her of stories she’s heard about old-school lesbian bars like the Lexington in San Francisco where tight-knit groups of regulars held court night after night.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Debra Tate, Sharon Tate’s sister, has been an outspoken advocate for keeping Krenwinkel and other former followers of Manson behind bars.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
There were a few cafés and bars, but they seemed careless, dusty, and joyless places.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
The New York Times reported Tuesday that two of the fraternity brothers were expelled, two more were suspended, and one who had already graduated was barred from campus.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Beyond addressing conditions at the facility, she barred the government from placing detainees in administrative segregation unless needed for security threats or requested by a detainee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
The court has barred public release of the names of the dead miners or their family members.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Since late September, pupils have barred the entrances to their schools, complaining of teacher absences, overloaded timetables, dilapidated classrooms and buildings ill-adapted to rising temperatures, among other grievances.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
He locked the barred door, took Resa's arm, and led her to the stairs.
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
A Dutch court rules in favor of Halozyme Therapeutics, barring Merck from selling subcutaneous Keytruda in eight European markets.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
It’s almost hard to fathom how any other individual could surpass his wealth, barring some company-specific problem.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
The guilty pleas came shortly after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation barring third-party brokers from advertising, selling or transferring tee-time reservations at publicly owned golf courses without the written consent of the course operator.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
Add in the public’s aversion to barring businesses from doing anything, along with the fond feelings many Americans have for the words “private” and “equity,” and it’s easy to feel hopeless.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026
When I came to her door, one of her nieces—Mona—was barring it.
From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck
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.
