barrel 1 of 2

noun

ˈber-əl How to pronounce barrel (audio)
Definition of barrelnext
1
as in ton
a considerable amount a visit to an amusement park should be a barrel of laughs

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2
as in tin
a metal container in the shape of a cylinder a trash barrel

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3
as in pipe
an enclosed wooden vessel for holding beverages barrels of fine wine aging in the winery's cellar

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barrel

2 of 2

verb

as in to race
to proceed or move quickly faced with a firm deadline, we barreled through the project at a furious pace

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of barrel
Noun
Designed by prolific Brooklyn architect Theobald Engelhardt, the building itself was constructed as a barrel factory for the sugar refineries that once dominated the Williamsburg waterfront. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026 This is about 20% of the 303 billion barrels the country is thought to possess. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
The boy’s mother sprinted toward the water, but Josh barreled past her. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 The United States and Canada are barreling toward a deeper trade war after last-ditch efforts to strike a deal collapsed Friday. — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barrel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barrel
  1. ton
  2. tin
  3. pipe
  4. race
  5. loads
  6. drum
  7. speed
  8. dozen
Noun
  • But the impact on their salary structure could be massive, and GM Pat Verbeek has taken a ton of criticism for his hard-bargain ways.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • There are still a few small ones out there, but to fit into that dedicated 1-ton class, there’s not a lot.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of ton
Noun
  • One of our editors likes to make these in mini-muffin tins for bite-size treats; just adjust cooking time accordingly.
    — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Made from vintage tin signs scavenged from around Brooklyn, it's poetically anchored in the borough’s history, while also signaling the neighborhood’s future—just like the hotel itself.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of tin
Noun
  • Along the way, temperatures have grown hotter and pipes have gotten larger, both of which increase the electricity generated by each well.
    — Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But with the pipe capped, Daniel and Silo 18 are at a stand off.
    — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of pipe
Verb
  • Bangladesh has been racing to halt the outbreak's spread since March, when more than 100 children died in less than a month.
    — JULHAS ALAM, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Thomas, who signed with Seattle in free agency, raced over at just the right time to break up a deep pass intended for Doubs.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of race
Noun
  • The size and specialized nature of these loads can also create opportunities for carriers to take on new customers and routes.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Faster speeds generally mean a compromise in quality, multi-color 3D printers often waste some filament, and higher volume loads usually demand more hardware.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of loads
Noun
  • Events include special guests and family members, 22 pairs of boots display, honor guards, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, towers in light, pipe & drums, name reading and the playing of taps.
    — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Another setback was an incident in which the company mistakenly used a Japanese drum for a promotion in China, sparking backlash and hurting sales.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of drum
Verb
  • Speaking at a joint news conference, Fujimori said Peru's participation in the coalition would speed intelligence-sharing and bolster joint action against criminal groups operating across borders.
    — Marco Aquino, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • AIs are already being used to answer decades-long unsolved complex mathematical problems, and have assisted scientists in speeding up scientific discovery and even designing new viruses.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • The charges are in addition to dozens of previous criminal charges brought against the Tates filed by Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Over 760,000 teenagers in dozens of countries took the Programme for International Student Assessment last year.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of dozen

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Cite this Entry

“Barrel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barrel. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on barrel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barrel

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