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

Rather, the league will barnstorm to different locations—Rosemont, Ill., Wichita, Kan., Sulphur, La., Chattanooga, Tenn., Norman, Okla., Omaha, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Round Rock, Texas, and Tuscaloosa, Ala.—to play games around the U.S. —Sean Gregory, Time, 6 June 2025

Like barnstorming in aviation, these missions are more than spectacles. —Jasmine Leflore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2025

The Savannah Bananas -- the Harlem Globetrotters of baseball -- are an exhibition barnstorming baseball team based in Savannah, Georgia. —Jim Varsallone, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025

In recent days the pair has barnstormed through Republican strongholds in the West, including stops in Montana, Utah and Idaho, attracting large crowds in the process. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 20 Apr. 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