bar

1 a straight piece (as of wood or metal) that is longer than it is wide all of the prison's windows are partially covered with steel bars Synonyms of bar billet, rod Words Related to bar arbor, beam, board, crossbar, crossbeam, girder; band, strip; bloom, ingot, slab, stick

2 a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background the cat had a bar of white down her throat Synonyms of bar band, stripe, streakWords Related to bar blaze, crossbar, pinstripe

3 a pile or ridge of granular matter (as sand or snow) more than one boater has run aground on that treacherous bar of sand in the river Synonyms of bar bank, drift, moundWords Related to bar snowbank, snowdrift; embankment, sandbar; heap, hill, mass, mountain, stack, tuft

4 a place of business where alcoholic beverages are sold to be consumed on the premises a bar that serves meals as well as drinks Synonyms of bar barroom, café (also cafe), cantina [Southwest], dramshop, gin mill, grogshop [chiefly British], pub, public house [chiefly British], saloon, taproom, tavern, watering hole, watering placeWords Related to bar alehouse, barrelhouse, bistro, bottle club, brewpub, cabaret, dive, joint, nightclub, roadhouse, speakeasy, sports bar, wineshop; package store

5 an assembly of persons for the administration of justice rather than try and convict the alleged murderer in the mass media, let justice be done at the bar Synonyms of bar court, bench, forum, tribunalWords Related to bar criminal court, judicatory, judicature, judiciary; high court, supreme court; court-martial, drumhead court-martial; inquisition, kangaroo court

6 something that makes movement or progress difficult the complication of the molecule is the biggest bar to reproducing it Synonyms of bar balk, encumbrance, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammelWords Related to bar catch, hitch, rub, snag; barrier, blockade, blockage, brick wall, stone wall; arrest, bit, brake, check, constraint, curb, hobble, rein, restraint; embargo, stoppage; delay, holdup, stall; burden, cumber, load; danger, hazard, peril, reef; adversity, difficulty, disadvantage, drawback, hardshipNear Antonyms of bar catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus; advantage, break, edge; aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden (also handmaid), help

7 something set up as an example against which others of the same type are compared we need to raise the bar for what is acceptable behavior in this situation Synonyms of bar standard, barometer, benchmark, criterion, gold standard, grade, mark, measure, metric, par, touchstone, yardstickWords Related to bar case, example, instance; average, norm, rule; acme, apex, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, zenithNear Antonyms of bar aberration, abnormality, deviation

not including everyone in the company is invited, bar none Synonyms of bar apart from, aside from, except, barring, beside, besides, but, except for, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside, outside of, save, saving

1 to make stripes on barred the fence with white strips Synonyms of bar band, stripe, streakWords Related to bar blaze

2 to order not to do or use or to be done or used corporal punishment has long been barred in most public schools Synonyms of bar ban, forbid, enjoin, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribeWords Related to bar deter, discourage, dissuade; clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, quell, repress, silence, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppress; halt, preclude, prevent, stop; embargo, exclude, rule out, shut out; debar, deprive, disallow, reject, repudiate, veto; bridle, check, curb, inhibit, rein (in), restrain; block, hinder, impede, obstructNear Antonyms of bar approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; authorize, license (also licence), warrant; abet, advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, further, nourish, nurture, promote, support; bid, command, order; abide, bear, brook, countenance, endure, tolerateAntonyms of bar allow, let, permit, suffer

3 to prevent the participation, consideration, or inclusion of gangs of rowdy teenagers have been barred from the mall Synonyms of bar ban, exclude, close out, count (out), debar, eliminate, except, freeze out, rule out, shut outWords Related to bar blackball, blacklist, excommunicate, ostracize; banish, deport, exile, expel, oust, throw out; obviate, preclude, prevent, prohibit; block, hinder, impede, obstruct; cease, discontinue, halt, suspend; deter, stave off, ward (off); check off, disregard; comb (out), weed (out)Near Antonyms of bar accept, embrace, entertain, receive, take in, welcome; unbanAntonyms of bar admit, include

4 to disallow entry into (a place) by means of a physical barrier at the entry point the bikeway was barred by a huge fallen tree Synonyms of bar close, barricade, blockade, block (off), guard, wall (off)Words Related to bar curtain (off), screen (off); dike, fence, gate, hedge; bolt, lock; obstructNear Antonyms of bar reopen, unblock, unboltAntonyms of bar open, unbar