Synonyms

barring

American

[bahr-ing] / ˈbɑr ɪŋ /

preposition

excepting; except for.

Barring accidents, I'll be there.

barring British

/ ˈbɑːrɪŋ /

preposition

unless (something) occurs; except for

barring rain, the match will be held tomorrow

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of barring

First recorded in 1475–85; bar ¹ + -ing ²

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.

Yet barring a massive flareup in violence in the Middle East and another spike in oil prices, the latest bout of inflation is unlikely to get much worse.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

In Mauritius, L'Express newspaper reported on Monday that the island nation was also barring foreign travellers from the three countries.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

He also fiercely criticized Raman for opposing a law barring homeless encampments next to schools.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

His barring from the UK led to a series of cancellations elsewhere.

From BBC • May 30, 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