Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

barrage

noun (1)
bar·​rage | \ ˈbär-ij How to pronounce barrage (audio) \

Definition of barrage

 (Entry 1 of 3)

: a dam placed in a watercourse to increase the depth of water or to divert it into a channel for navigation or irrigation

barrage

noun (2)
bar·​rage | \ bə-ˈräzh How to pronounce barrage (audio) , -ˈräj How to pronounce barrage (audio) \

Definition of barrage (Entry 2 of 3)

1 military : artillery fire laid on a line (see line entry 1 sense 6c) close to friendly troops to screen and protect them The enemy laid down a barrage of machine-gun fire as our platoon approached the bridge.
2 : a vigorous or rapid outpouring or projection of many things at once a barrage of phone calls unleashed a barrage of insults an oratorical barrage

barrage

verb
bar·​rage | \ bə-ˈräzh How to pronounce barrage (audio) , -ˈräj How to pronounce barrage (audio) \
barraged; barraging

Definition of barrage (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

: to deliver a barrage (see barrage entry 2) against were barraged with bullets being barraged by campaign ads before the election
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about barrage

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for barrage

Synonyms: Verb

bomb, bombard

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Examples of barrage in a Sentence

Verb

 the star athlete was barraged with requests for an autograph

First Known Use of barrage

Noun (1)

1837, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1918, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for barrage

Noun (1)

French, from barrer to bar, from barre bar

Noun (2)

French (tir de) barrage barrier fire

Verb

verbal derivative of barrage entry 2

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about barrage

Statistics for barrage

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for barrage

The first known use of barrage was in 1837

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for barrage

barrage

verb
How to pronounce barrage (audio) How to pronounce barrage (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of barrage

chiefly US : to cause (someone) to receive a great amount of something : to direct a barrage of questions, comments, etc., at (someone)

See the full definition for barrage in the English Language Learners Dictionary

barrage

noun
bar·​rage | \ bə-ˈräzh How to pronounce barrage (audio) \

Kids Definition of barrage

1 : a heavy and continuous firing of weapons during a battle
2 : a great amount of something that comes quickly and continuously a barrage of commercials

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on barrage

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with barrage

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for barrage

Spanish Central: Translation of barrage

Nglish: Translation of barrage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of barrage for Arabic Speakers

Comments on barrage

What made you want to look up barrage? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

resurrection

Listen to the pronounciation of resurrection

an act or instance of returning to life

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Latin Quiz

  • roman forum
  • Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
TRENDING NOW

  1. surveillance Comey comments on Barr's use of 'spy'

  2. cavalier Virginia wins men's championship

  3. redact, redacted Barr discusses release of report

SEE ALL
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games