plural bars
1
a
: a building or room where alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served
We went to a bar for a drink.
b
: a counter where alcoholic drinks are served
We sat at the restaurant's bar while we were waiting for a table.
c
: a building or room where a particular food or drink is served
a seafood bar
a juice/coffee bar
2
: a straight piece of metal, wood, etc., that is used as a tool, as part of a structure, or to keep people from entering or leaving through a door or window
There were bars across all the windows.
The door was secured with an iron bar.
The pole-vaulter narrowly cleared the bar. [=the long bar that is set at a specific height and that a jumper tries to go over]
Note: In U.S. English, bar is used figuratively in phrases like raise/lower the bar and set the bar higher/lower to refer to changing the standard that is used to judge whether someone or something is good, successful, etc.
3
: a solid piece of something that is shaped like a rectangle
She bought a chocolate/candy bar.
a bar of soap
4
: a straight line, stripe, or section that is longer than it is wide
The bird's tail has an alternating series of white and black bars. [=bands]
a menu bar [=a narrow section that is across the screen in a computer program and that shows the names of available menus]
5
formal
: something that makes it difficult or impossible to do or achieve something
—+ to
His poor attitude was a bar to his success. [=his poor attitude prevented him from succeeding]
6
a
US
: the profession of a lawyer
She is a member of the bar. [=she is a lawyer]
the American Bar Association
She has been called to the bar. [=she has become a lawyer]
b
or the Bar British
: the profession of a barrister
c
US
: the test that a person must pass in order to be a lawyer
She passed the bar on her first try.
the bar exam/examination
7
music
a
: a line in written music that shows where a measure begins
b
: the beats between two bars in a piece of music
I'm not sure I know that song. Can you hum a few bars? [=measures]
bars; barred; barring
1
: to put a bar or a set of bars in front of a door, window, etc., so that people cannot go in or out of it
He barred the door as soon as he got in.
All the windows and doors were barred.
a barred window
2
: to put something in a road, path, etc., so that people cannot get by
A herd of goats was barring the road.
obstacles barring our way
3
a
: to prevent or forbid (someone) from doing something
Nothing barred them from meeting together.
The judge will bar the jurors from talking to reporters.
A federal court has barred the group from using the name.
Reporters were barred [=excluded] from the meeting. [=reporters were not allowed to go to the meeting]
b
: to prevent or forbid (something)
The decision bars the possibility of additional development in the area.
forms of punishment barred by the Constitution
1
—used in the phrase bar none to emphasize that a statement is completely true
She is the brightest student I've ever known, bar none. [=I have never known a student who is brighter than she is]
2
British
: except for : barring
They have lost every match, bar one.
Cite this Entry
“Bar.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/bar. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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