barnstorm

verb

barn·​storm ˈbärn-ˌstȯrm 

barnstormed; barnstorming; barnstorms

intransitive verb

1

: to tour through rural districts staging usually theatrical performances

2

: to travel from place to place making brief stops (as in a political campaign or a promotional tour)

3

: to pilot one's airplane in sightseeing flights with passengers or in exhibition stunts in an unscheduled course especially in rural districts

transitive verb

: to travel across while barnstorming

barnstormer noun

Examples of barnstorm in a Sentence

He spent the months leading up to the election barnstorming around the country.

The national soccer team barnstormed through the country.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since early August, Vance has barnstormed across key battlegrounds, including Georgia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, in an effort to shore up vulnerable Republicans and pressure Democratic incumbents. —Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025

Over the next four decades, GameDay evolved into a traveling paragon of sports television, barnstorming its way across college campuses each week, with Corso serving as master of ceremonies. —Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025

The Bananas are a barnstorming baseball team that’s about fans and fun first. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025

While Led Zeppelin would have benefited greatly from Reid’s singing, songwriting and distinctive guitar work, being in that barnstorming band would have placed unacceptable artistic restraints on him. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for barnstorm

• brainstorm
• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• inform
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform
• planform
• platform
• preform

Kids Definition

barnstorm

verb

barn·​storm ˈbärn-ˌstȯrm 

: to travel through the country making brief stops to entertain (as with shows or flying stunts) or to campaign for political office

barnstormer noun