barn dance
noun
: an American social dance originally held in a barn and featuring several dance forms (such as square dancing)
Examples of barn dance in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The April 17 episode picked up with Farmers John Sansone, Jay Woods, Matt Warren and Colton Hendricks enjoying their time in Nashville at a barn dance with their ladies.
—
Dory Jackson, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The November 18, 1934, Tennessean documented the Opry’s evolution from a barn dance of the airwaves and imagination—where a few lucky fans could crowd into a radio studio each week—to a stage show where musicians’ costumes reflected the hillbilly image the show cultivated from the beginning.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Later that day, Ellie gets ready for the barn dance by using her pocket knife — sanitized with alcohol first, thankfully — to slice up the bite on her stomach.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Founded back in 1975, the longstanding not-for-profit organization has continued to build relationships and an appreciation of music through regular sing-arounds, barn dances and its annual Folk Music and Storytelling Festival.
—David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
The Grand Ole Opry House at 50 March 16 marks a half-century for the 99-year-old Grand Ole Opry program on 2804 Opryland Drive, its sixth home since the show was initially broadcast as a barn dance in 1925.
—David Farré, The Tennessean, 9 Mar. 2024
In short, the 2024 Convention was a formidable exercise in party discipline: a calculated blend of lockstep and barn dance, such as the Democrats, right now, can only dream of.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024
Their light, harmony-laden fare evokes blue-sky airiness, front-porch pleasantries and all-ages barn dances.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2024
Barry explained that jigs were different than barn dances and peasant music, that music and dancing were the religion of their grandparents and that musicians played for the dancers.
—Lori Nickel, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dory Jackson, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The November 18, 1934, Tennessean documented the Opry’s evolution from a barn dance of the airwaves and imagination—where a few lucky fans could crowd into a radio studio each week—to a stage show where musicians’ costumes reflected the hillbilly image the show cultivated from the beginning.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Later that day, Ellie gets ready for the barn dance by using her pocket knife — sanitized with alcohol first, thankfully — to slice up the bite on her stomach.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Founded back in 1975, the longstanding not-for-profit organization has continued to build relationships and an appreciation of music through regular sing-arounds, barn dances and its annual Folk Music and Storytelling Festival.
—David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
The Grand Ole Opry House at 50 March 16 marks a half-century for the 99-year-old Grand Ole Opry program on 2804 Opryland Drive, its sixth home since the show was initially broadcast as a barn dance in 1925.
—David Farré, The Tennessean, 9 Mar. 2024
In short, the 2024 Convention was a formidable exercise in party discipline: a calculated blend of lockstep and barn dance, such as the Democrats, right now, can only dream of.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 25 July 2024
Their light, harmony-laden fare evokes blue-sky airiness, front-porch pleasantries and all-ages barn dances.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2024
Barry explained that jigs were different than barn dances and peasant music, that music and dancing were the religion of their grandparents and that musicians played for the dancers.
—Lori Nickel, Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Barn dance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barn%20dance. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share