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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
As Tuesday’s election barrels toward them, Becerra and Hilton traded barbs and barnstormed California in a relatively sedate race to succeed Democrat Gavin Newsom, who is wrapping up his final term as governor and considering a run for president. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026 Master distiller Owen Martin selected rye whiskeys aged between eight and 11 years, and finished some of them for 15 to 23 months in peach brandy barrels, and some of which for six to 12 months in toasted oak. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2026
Verb
Pucker moments, like barreling down a single-track into a rock ledge, become non-events. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 2 Nov. 2026 But the Bolts are 0-7 and barreling toward most unfortunate history. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 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
  • The machine uses a Volvo Penta electric driveline and is rated to lay up to 551 US tons (500 tonnes) of asphalt per hour without producing exhaust emissions at the work site.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The combined weight of each transport is approximately 800,000 pounds (400 tons), which will be offloaded from the NIPSCO’s rail spur in Valparaiso.
    — Jim Masters, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of ton
Noun
  • The carbon overlayer regulates subsequent growth, potentially limiting uneven deposition and stabilizing the region where tin and lithium interact.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
  • There are five different shapes in each tin, all with a rich buttery taste.
    — Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of tin
Noun
  • The pipes in portable washrooms would have frozen, so the production hired extra drivers to shuttle crew to their hotel bathrooms.
    — Max Gao, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • And while unstable coalitions repeatedly fused and dissolved in the halls of power, outside these halls pipes burst and roads crumbled.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of pipe
Verb
  • The Trojans raced to a 25-4 lead, including 18 in a row, to open the game.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • McAuley then raced out to a 10-2 lead in the third game, but the Trojans rallied to take a 20-19 advantage.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of race
Noun
  • The elasticity of the cloud isn’t available in an air-gapped on-premise environment; hence, the size needs to account for the peak loads.
    — Karan Alang, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • PlusAI is a company working on autonomous trucking solutions with Nvidia, and the sand was in the trailers to simulate freight loads.
    — Nick Indge, ArsTechnica, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of loads
Noun
  • Her set evoked a football halftime show and homecoming celebration at historically Black colleges and universities, with a marching band, drum line, steppers and majorette-style dancers performing in front of bleachers.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Demonstrators banging on drums, yelling, and making siren sounds with an electronic bullhorn could be heard within the boardroom.
    — Russell Lissau, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of drum
Verb
  • Faster decisions in contested environments The potential military applications extend beyond simply speeding up individual calculations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The measure speeds permitting approval under the California Environmental Quality Act by placing deadlines on government agencies to issue or deny permits within a year.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • About a dozen pay-raise charter amendments have failed since the 1960s.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Davis announced plans to retire in July 2025, setting off a frenzied dash of more than a dozen candidates to represent one of America’s bluest congressional districts.
    — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 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 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on barrel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barrel

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