bars 1 of 2

plural of bar
1
as in beams
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

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2
as in streaks
a line or long narrow section differing in color from the background the cat had a bar of white down her throat

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3
as in mounds
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

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4
5
as in tribunals
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

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6
7
as in standards
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

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bars

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bar
1
as in stripes
to make stripes on barred the fence with white strips

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2
3
4
as in guards
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

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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 bars
Noun
Many visitors walked by the hotel and would stop off at its bars and restaurants. Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026 Elegant bars like The Marquis and Five of Clubs, alongside eclectic libations at The Bearded Lady’s Jewel Box, should more than do you well for nightcaps. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2026 City aims to diversify Historic Main Street businesses The current regulations also limit the number of bars, wineries, breweries and brew pubs in the area to six. Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026 Nightclubs and rooftop bars from E11EVEN in Miami to Marquee in New York (plus E11EVEN’s takeover nights at Cipriani in Manhattan and FYE in Toronto) faced surges Speakeasy’s platform quietly absorbed. Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 The smattering of blocks near University of Québec at Montréal has historically catered to a bohemian-leaning collegiate set, as keen on its clusters of cafés and bars as its proximity to one of North America’s oldest gayborhoods, the Village. Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026 From a brownie mix to protein bars, here are the items to add to your cart during your next shopping trip to the popular grocer. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 23 July 2026 Amenities include award-winning restaurants, bars, the Paradise Springs water park, an event venue, the Relâche Spa and Salon and retail shops. Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026 In the surrounding neighborhood, lots of bars, cafes, and restaurants offer all types of cuisine to adventurous food enthusiasts. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026
Verb
The deal otherwise bars Riyadh from developing its own enrichment technology or purchasing it from other countries for a decade, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the deal’s approval. Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 23 July 2026 Federal law bars most health insurance plans from charging patients for prenatal visits, screenings, and some postpartum services. Camille A. Clare, STAT, 23 July 2026 Some have pointed to the federal American Servicemembers Protection Act of 2002, which bars local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with the ICC process. Chad De Guzman, Time, 22 July 2026 As Ernest Hemingway's birthday rolls around each July, Florida bars from Key West to Miami Beach shake mojitos in tribute to the Nobel Prize-winning author. Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 Prosecutors with the Wise County District Attorney's Office have asked the court to deny the request, arguing there is no legal rule that bars media coverage of criminal proceedings. Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 21 July 2026 Bonta and his fellow Democratic attorneys general contend that the transaction violates Section 7 of the Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914, a federal law that bars mergers likely to substantially lessen competition. Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 20 July 2026 In the findings announced by its Civil Rights Division, the Justice Department said the medical school violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars schools that receive federal money from discriminating based on race. Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 Washington also bars its pension funds and college endowments from investing into Chinese firms developing sensitive technologies. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bars
Noun
  • In Galecki’s home, wood beams and columns recall its log cabin roots.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
  • The machine fires X-ray beams at a subject, then uses a specialized camera to record how a bone absorbs the beams based on density.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • Through highs and lows, roster changes and winning streaks, the Dream have found their place in the top five of the league standings.
    Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 23 July 2026
  • Stock futures are lower this morning after all three major indexes broke their three-day losing streaks.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Over the years, mounds, pottery shards and other relics of Native American settlements that once dotted the swamp have been discovered.
    Drew Kann, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • In an effort to starve the Native Americans of the Great Plains, white settlers massacred many millions of North American buffalo between 1870 and 1890, piling the animals’ skulls into monstrous mounds reaching up to the sky.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Noun
  • Ulf wants what most men want, especially middle-aged single men with lots of friends at pubs.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Rising costs and taxes are among the reasons why pubs are feeling financial pressure, said Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA.
    Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Noun
  • Lawmakers are prohibited by the state Constitution from being paid representatives for individuals or entities before state agencies other than judicial tribunals.
    Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • In 1996, the United Nations selected her as chief prosecutor of the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.
    Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Noun
  • The hero’s victory comes not from acquiring gold but from confronting inner obstacles and emerging with a deeper understanding of themselves.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • Lack of trust and resistance from locals remain one of the biggest obstacles to containing the outbreak, according to authorities and health workers.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • The board sets education policy, maintains academic standards, and oversees educational licenses and the accreditation system.
    Zuri Primos July 26, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • In the absence of so many senior stars in the wake of the World Cup, Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez have stepped up, helping to set the standards for the youngsters who have been included on this pre-season tour to the United States.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • Opt for scalloped French tips with blue fresco detailing, or stripes the color of the Tuscan sun.
    Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bars.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bars. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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