Jump To:

• space bar
  space bar

  noun

  a horizontal bar on a typewriter keyboard that is depressed in order to resume typing one space to the right.
• space-bar
  space-bar

  noun

  a horizontal bar on a typewriter that is depressed in order to leave a space between words, letters, etc

space bar

American  

noun

1. a horizontal bar on a typewriter keyboard that is depressed in order to resume typing one space to the right.

2. a horizontal bar on a computer keyboard that is depressed in order to move the cursor one space to the right or, often, to perform some function in a program.

---

space-bar British  

noun

1. a horizontal bar on a typewriter that is depressed in order to leave a space between words, letters, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of space bar

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

space bar space-bar

In another, they offered longer access to social media the faster subjects could tap a space bar.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 7, 2023

Look at that tiny period key lurking, just waiting for your right thumb to brush it on your way to the space bar.

From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2023

Instead of trying to cram a small dining table into the space, bar stools can be used as a counter instead.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 11, 2023

My hand hovered over the space bar as I hit play and pause over and over again to document every frame.

From Washington Post ● May 20, 2022

She saw her hand float out in front of her and hit the space bar on his laptop, pausing the video.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

Mostly there was a sheet in his type-mill, but his fingers only fluttered the space-bar.

From She Buildeth Her House by William Wistar Comfort

Do not count that as one, in leaving the three spaces suggested, but touch your space-bar three times.

From Writing the Photoplay by J. Berg (Joseph Berg) Esenwein