- 1[usually passive] bar something to close something with a bar or bars All the doors and windows were barred. block
- 2bar something to block a road, path, etc. so that nobody can pass Two police officers were barring her exit. We found our way barred by rocks. prevent
- 3bar somebody (from something/from doing something) to ban or prevent somebody from doing something The players are barred from drinking alcohol the night before a match. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbeffectively, legally, permanently, … prepositionfrom See full entry Word Originverb Middle English: from Old French barre (noun), barrer (verb), of unknown origin. More Like This Consonant-doubling verbs bob, club, dub, grab, rub, sob, throb kid, nod, pad, plod, prod, shred, skid, thud beg, blog, bug, drag, drug, flag, hug, jog, log, mug, nag, plug bar, confer, infer, occur, prefer, refer, star, stir, transfer acquit, admit, allot, chat, clot, commit, jut, knit, pat, regret, rot, spot, submit (in British English:) appal, cancel, channel, control, counsel, enrol, equal, excel, fuel, fulfil, label, level, marvel, model, pedal, quarrel, signal, travelSee worksheet. Extra examplesThe curfew has effectively barred migrant workers from their jobs. Certain activities are still barred to women. The players are barred from drinking alcohol the night before a match.Idioms
bar
verbBrE BrE//bɑː(r)//; NAmE NAmE//bɑːr//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they bar BrE BrE//bɑː(r)//; NAmE NAmE//bɑːr//
he / she / it bars BrE BrE//bɑːz//; NAmE NAmE//bɑːrz//
past simple barred BrE BrE//bɑːd//; NAmE NAmE//bɑːrd//
past participle barred BrE BrE//bɑːd//; NAmE NAmE//bɑːrd//
-ing form barring BrE BrE//ˈbɑːrɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈbɑːrɪŋ//
with no rules or limits on what somebody is allowed to do There will be no holds barred in his interview with the president this evening.
Check pronunciation: bar
