bar
bar — verb
1. to stop a person, activity, or plan from going forward, especially by refusing a
to stop a person, activity, or plan from going forward, especially by refusing access or permission.
Airport police barred Leo from entering the gate without a boarding pass.
bar + [person] from + -ing
Heavy snow barred the mountain road, so buses turned back at noon.
subject can be weather or a barrier
The school barred parents from parking beside the playground after two crashes.
A court order barred the company from selling the unsafe toy.
official action bars an activity
An old knee injury barred him from joining the rescue team.
- bar someone from doing something
- bar entry
- bar access
- bar use
Grammar Patterns
bar + [person] from + -ing
bar + entry/access/use
Usage Note
Often takes object + 'from' + -ing. The subject may be an authority, a rule, bad weather, or even an injury. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about stopping access or action, not fixing a bar across an opening.
Common Mistakes
2. to fasten a door, gate, window, or similar opening with a strong piece across it
to fasten a door, gate, window, or similar opening with a strong piece across it so it cannot be opened.
Before bed, Nora barred the kitchen door with a thick wooden beam.
bar + [door] with [wood/metal piece]
The shopkeeper barred the front window after the storm warning on the radio.
Villagers barred the gate when they heard wolves near the sheep field.
bar + [gate/opening]
The old church was barred from inside during the winter festival.
passive: be barred from inside
Tomás barred the cellar hatch before the floodwater reached the yard.
- bar the door
- bar the gate
- bar the window
- bar shut
Grammar Patterns
bar + [door/window/gate]
[opening] + be barred from inside
Usage Note
Object is usually a door, gate, window, hatch, or another opening. The idea is physical security with a bar or beam across it. Distinguish from sense 1: here the opening itself is the direct object.
Common Mistakes
bar — noun
1. a business or room where people buy and drink beer, wine, and other drinks.
a business or room where people buy and drink beer, wine, and other drinks.
We met at a small bar near Taipei Main Station after work.
meet at a bar
The hotel bar stayed open until midnight for tired guests.
hotel / airport / sports bar
A jazz band played in the bar while couples talked quietly.
Nina drank ginger ale in the bar because she was driving home.
in the bar = inside the place
- hotel bar
- sports bar
- wine bar
- go to a bar
- spend the evening in a bar
Grammar Patterns
go to a bar
hotel / sports / wine bar
Usage Note
Used for the whole business or room. Distinguish from sense 3 (SERVING COUNTER): if you mean the long surface where drinks are handed over, that is the counter sense.
Common Mistakes
2. in names like 'salad bar' or 'juice bar', a place or section built around one ma
in names like 'salad bar' or 'juice bar', a place or section built around one main thing to eat or sip.
The airport added a noodle bar beside the crowded sandwich shop.
[food] + bar
Guests made their own lunch at the salad bar by the window.
salad bar
A new coffee bar opened inside the bookshop on Zhongshan Road.
[drink] + bar
Children lined up at the ice-cream bar after the school play.
- salad bar
- coffee bar
- juice bar
- noodle bar
- ice-cream bar
Grammar Patterns
[food/drink] + bar
Usage Note
Usually the second word in a compound naming what is sold there: coffee bar, noodle bar, salad bar. Distinguish from sense 1, which normally means a place mainly for alcoholic drinks.
Common Mistakes
3. the long raised counter where staff hand people drinks or food.
the long raised counter where staff hand people drinks or food.
We waited at the bar until a server brought two menus.
wait at the bar
Jules leaned on the bar and watched the bartender cut lemons.
lean on the bar
Only three stools were free along the bar by the door.
bar stool / along the bar
Please leave the empty glasses on the bar after the party.
- at the bar
- behind the bar
- lean on the bar
- bar stool
- bar top
- counter
general word for a long service surface
- serving counter
more explicit term in restaurants or cafeterias
Grammar Patterns
at the bar
behind the bar
Usage Note
Common with 'at', 'on', and 'behind'. Distinguish from sense 1 (DRINKING PLACE): this sense is the surface where drinks or food are served, not the whole establishment.
Common Mistakes
4. the level other people or things are judged against in comparison.
the level other people or things are judged against in comparison.
Her final project set the bar for the rest of the design class.
set the bar for [group]
The coach raised the bar by asking everyone to finish faster.
raise the bar
Parents at the meeting said the school should keep the bar high.
keep the bar high
At the toy fair, judges still used that drop test as the bar.
- set the bar
- raise the bar
- lower the bar
- keep the bar high
- the bar for success
Grammar Patterns
set / raise / lower the bar
the bar for [quality/performance]
Usage Note
Usually appears in the patterns 'set the bar', 'raise the bar', and 'the bar for ...'. It is mainly used for judging quality, performance, or expected behaviour.
Common Mistakes
5. a straight rod made from metal or wood, often used to block, support, or hold so
a straight rod made from metal or wood, often used to block, support, or hold something.
A steel bar blocked the gate after the warehouse closed.
steel / iron bar
Workers lifted the stone with a metal bar and a rope.
lift [something] with a bar
The monkey gripped the cage bars and stared at the visitors.
cage bars
Dad hung the wet towels over a wooden bar by the stove.
- steel bar
- wooden bar
- iron bars
- cage bars
- hang [something] over a bar
Grammar Patterns
metal / wooden bar
cage bars
Usage Note
Often names a rigid object with a practical job, such as blocking a gate, forming a cage, or holding things up. Distinguish from sense 6 (SOLID BLOCK), which is a shaped piece of a substance like soap or chocolate.
Common Mistakes
6. a hard rectangular piece of soap, chocolate, gold, or similar material.
a hard rectangular piece of soap, chocolate, gold, or similar material.
Mina broke a bar of dark chocolate into squares for the cake.
a bar of chocolate
There was only half a bar of soap beside the sink.
a bar of soap
The museum displayed a gold bar behind thick glass.
gold bar
Grandpa bought two energy bars before the long bus ride.
energy / cereal bar
- bar of soap
- bar of chocolate
- gold bar
- energy bar
- break a bar into pieces
Grammar Patterns
a bar of [soap/chocolate/gold]
[energy / chocolate] bar
Usage Note
Usually followed by 'of' when you name the material: a bar of soap, a bar of chocolate, a bar of gold. Distinguish from sense 5, where the bar itself is the rigid object.
Common Mistakes
7. the metal part inside an electric heater that turns red and gives off heat when
the metal part inside an electric heater that turns red and gives off heat when power runs through it
One heater bar glowed orange, but the other stayed dark.
collocation: heater bar
Dad replaced the broken bar in the old electric fire.
pattern: replace a bar
Dust burned on the hot bar and made the room smell bad.
The baby touched the heater bar and cried at once.
- heater bar
- glowing bar
- hot bar
- broken bar
- replace a bar
- heating element
broader term for the part that produces heat in many devices
- coil
used when the wire is wound into a spiral shape
- filament
more technical and often used for finer wire parts
Usage Note
Usually used for electric heaters or old electric fires. It names the heating part itself, not the whole machine.
8. a short section of music that has a set number of beats
a short section of music that has a set number of beats
The drummer counted four beats in each bar before practice began.
pattern: beats in each bar
Please start again from the third bar on page two.
pattern: from the third bar
Lena wrote two quiet bars for the flute solo.
The children clapped one bar slowly, then one bar fast.
- count the bars
- four beats in a bar
- the first bar
- the third bar
- four bars of music
Usage Note
Used for the part of the music, not the line between parts. In American English, 'measure' is often the more common word.
Common Mistakes
9. the upright mark in written music that separates one bar from the next
the upright mark in written music that separates one bar from the next
The teacher drew a bar line after every four beats.
collocation: bar line
Mina forgot the last bar line, so the page looked messy.
A thick double bar marked the end of the song.
collocation: double bar
A red pen marked the missing bar line in Jacob's homework.
- bar line
- double bar
- final bar line
- draw a bar line
- missing bar line
- bar line
the full standard term in music
- double bar
a special type used to mark a strong division or ending
Usage Note
Often appears as the full term 'bar line'. Distinguish from sense 8, where 'bar' means the musical section itself.
Common Mistakes
10. one of the small screen lines that shows signal strength, battery power, or a si
one of the small screen lines that shows signal strength, battery power, or a similar level on a device
My phone showed only one bar, so I moved near the window.
pattern: one bar / two bars / full bars
The laptop battery dropped to two bars during the train ride.
screen indicator: battery bars
In the basement, Ella's tablet never gets more than three bars.
Four bars appeared after we stepped outside the tunnel.
- one bar
- two bars
- full bars
- signal bars
- battery bars
- indicator
broader word for any sign showing a level or state
- signal bar
used when the line shows network strength
- battery bar
used when the line shows remaining power
Usage Note
Usually plural when talking about the amount shown on a screen. Distinguish from noun 18, which is the long area at the edge of a screen.
11. a narrow strip on a uniform, often showing rank or length of service
a narrow strip on a uniform, often showing rank or length of service
The captain wore two silver bars on each shoulder.
collocation: silver bars / shoulder bars
A new bar was sewn onto Rosa's police uniform.
passive: be sewn onto a uniform
The cadets checked every bar before the parade started.
One red bar on the sleeve marked ten years of service.
- silver bars
- shoulder bars
- service bars
- wear bars
- sew on a bar
Usage Note
Most often used for military or police uniforms. The bar may be metal or cloth, depending on the uniform system.
12. something that stands in the way and stops a plan, change, or action from happen
something that stands in the way and stops a plan, change, or action from happening
High legal costs remain a bar to small families seeking justice.
pattern: a bar to something
Lack of child care became a bar to Maria's return to work.
With cameras outside city hall, fear was no bar to the nurses speaking out.
pattern: no bar to something
The rule is a serious bar to new housing in the town.
Poor transport can be a bar to regular hospital visits.
- a bar to progress
- a bar to change
- a bar to entry
- a serious bar
- no bar to success
Grammar Patterns
a bar to something
no bar to something
Usage Note
Formal and usually singular. Most often appears in the pattern 'a bar to ...' and refers to something nonphysical that blocks progress.
Common Mistakes
13. a unit used for measuring pressure, especially in tyres, machines, and weather r
a unit used for measuring pressure, especially in tyres, machines, and weather reports, equal to 100,000 pascals.
Before school, Mia's bike pump showed only 2 bar.
pattern: [number] bar
This coffee machine works best at 9 bar of pressure.
[number] bar of pressure
Dad checked the tyres and raised them to 2.4 bar.
Overnight, the weather station showed pressure below 1 bar again.
- 2 bar
- 9 bar of pressure
- raise to 2.4 bar
- below 1 bar
- pressure unit
general description rather than the exact unit name
- atmosphere
a similar pressure unit, but not exactly the same value
Grammar Patterns
[number] bar
[number] bar of pressure
Usage Note
Usually follows a number and often appears with 'of pressure'. Common in talk about tyres, coffee machines, air tanks, and weather data.
Common Mistakes
14. the body of advocates permitted to speak for clients in the higher courts.
the body of advocates permitted to speak for clients in the higher courts.
Only members of the Bar could speak for clients in that old court.
members of the Bar
In 1952, only two women joined the Bar in that intake.
the Bar as a professional body
Students at King's College heard two speakers from the Bar describe court work.
At the call ceremony, the Bar welcomed mostly wealthy graduates.
- the Bar
- members of the Bar
- join the Bar
- speak at the Bar
- barristers
common label in British-style systems for these court advocates
- advocates
formal term stressing courtroom representation
Grammar Patterns
the Bar
members of the Bar
Usage Note
Usually written as 'the Bar' and treated as a singular professional body. Distinguish from sense 15, which can refer to lawyers more generally rather than those with higher-court speaking rights.
Common Mistakes
15. lawyers considered as one profession or public body, especially when people spea
lawyers considered as one profession or public body, especially when people speak about them together.
The bar reacted strongly when the minister blamed defence lawyers.
the bar as the legal profession
At the swearing-in ceremony, half the new lawyers in the bar were women.
Senior judges and the bar met to discuss long court delays.
After the flood, the bar offered free legal help downtown.
- the bar
- at the bar
- the bar reacted
- part of the bar
- legal profession
clear formal phrase for lawyers as a whole
- lawyers
broader everyday term, less institutional in tone
Grammar Patterns
the bar
at the bar
Usage Note
Often used as a collective singular with verbs such as 'react', 'oppose', 'support', and 'meet'. Distinguish from sense 14, which is narrower and centres on higher-court advocates.
Common Mistakes
16. in British and similar systems, the status gained when someone is admitted to pr
in British and similar systems, the status gained when someone is admitted to practise as a barrister in higher courts, especially in the phrase 'be called to the bar'.
After years of training, Priya was called to the bar in London.
be called to the bar
At dinner, Uncle David told us when he was called to the bar.
Olu moved to the capital after being called to the bar.
The family gathered in July to celebrate Mei's call to the bar.
call to the bar
- be called to the bar
- call to the bar
- called to the bar in London
- admission
formal word for being officially accepted into a profession
- qualification
focuses on the status or right gained
Grammar Patterns
be called to the bar
call to the bar
Usage Note
Mostly appears in the fixed phrase 'be called to the bar'. Distinguish from sense 17, which is the American exam sense.
Common Mistakes
17. in the US, the exam a law graduate must pass before working as a lawyer.
in the US, the exam a law graduate must pass before working as a lawyer.
Sofia passed the bar on her second try last summer.
pass the bar
Ethan studies every night because he takes the bar in July.
take the bar
After law school, Maria moved home to prepare for the bar.
prepare for the bar
Only three students from our class failed the bar this year.
- take the bar
- pass the bar
- fail the bar
- prepare for the bar
- bar examination
full formal name for the same exam
- licensing test
general description, less specific than the legal term
Grammar Patterns
take the bar
pass/fail the bar
prepare for the bar
Usage Note
Usually follows verbs such as 'take', 'sit', 'pass', 'fail', and 'prepare for'. Distinguish from sense 16, which is about admission as a barrister in British-style systems.
Common Mistakes
18. a narrow strip at the top, side, or bottom of a screen where a program shows cho
a narrow strip at the top, side, or bottom of a screen where a program shows choices, icons, or information.
A blue bar ran along the left side of the photo app.
bar along the side of a screen
At the bottom, the bar showed how long the upload would take.
bar at the bottom shows information
The game hides its menu bar until you move the mouse.
compound forms: menu bar / status bar
A narrow bar on the right showed chat names and small profile icons.
- menu bar
- status bar
- scroll bar
- bar on the right
- toolbar
specifically a bar holding tools or icons
- sidebar
specifically a bar at the side of the screen
- status bar
specifically a bar that shows current information
Grammar Patterns
bar at the top/side/bottom
menu/status/scroll bar
Usage Note
Usually takes a place phrase such as 'at the top', 'on the left', or 'at the bottom'. It is a broad label that can cover menu bars, sidebars, scroll bars, and status bars.
Common Mistakes
behind bars
idiomThis means being locked up in a prison as a punishment for a crime.
The thief will spend the next five years behind bars.
After the trial, the criminal was put behind bars.
lower the bar
idiomThis means to make the required level of quality or achievement less strict.
The teacher decided to lower the bar for the final exam.
If we lower the bar, more students will pass the test.
This means to completely refuse to accept or be involved with something.
Maya does not have a bar of her brother's bad advice.
The committee will not have a bar of that proposal.
raise the bar
idiomThis means to set a higher standard of quality or performance than before.
The new software raises the bar for user experience.
Our team raised the bar by finishing the project early.
set the bar
idiomThis means to establish a particular level of quality or achievement that others must meet.
Sara set the bar high with her excellent presentation.
The company sets the bar for customer service in the industry.
bar — preposition
1. used to show that one person, thing, or small part is not included in what you h
used to show that one person, thing, or small part is not included in what you have just said.
Bar one empty seat, the train was full all the way.
bar + noun phrase at clause start
All the shops were closed, bar the bakery near the bridge.
all + bar + excluded item
Everyone joined Rosa for lunch, bar her brother in Kaohsiung.
everyone + bar + person
The dog ate every biscuit bar the last broken one.
Bar a short delay at Taoyuan, the flight was smooth.
bar + exception before main statement
- all bar one
- everyone bar
- everything bar
- bar a short delay
- except
the normal everyday word in both speech and writing
- except for
slightly longer and common when one detail is being singled out
- apart from
common in conversation and can sometimes mean either exclusion or addition from context
- including
shows that a person or thing is part of the group, not left out
Grammar Patterns
bar + noun phrase
all/everyone/everything + bar + noun phrase
Usage Note
Mostly used in British English and more often in writing than in casual speech. It comes directly before the excluded noun phrase, often after a broad statement such as 'everyone came' or 'all the shops were closed'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These words can all point to places where people drink, but they suggest different settings. 'Bar' is the broad everyday word, especially for a place focused on drinks or for the drinks area inside a hotel or restaurant. 'Pub' is especially common in British English and often suggests a more local, traditional place where food and regular customers matter too. 'Tavern' sounds older or more literary, though some businesses still use it in their name. 'Lounge' usually suggests a quieter, more comfortable, and sometimes more expensive setting. 'Nightclub' is different again: people go there mainly for loud music, dancing, and late-night entertainment. Compare: 'Let's meet at the hotel bar,' 'They ate at a village pub,' and 'The nightclub stayed open until three.'
Etymology
Most senses of 'bar' come from a word that meant a rod, beam, or barrier. English took it from Anglo-French 'barre', which goes back to Vulgar Latin '*barra'. From that concrete idea, English developed the meanings of shutting a door, blocking someone's way, and later many related nouns: the counter in a drinking place, the legal bar, and figurative uses such as a bar to progress. One noun sense is separate, though: the pressure unit 'bar' was coined much later from Greek 'baros', meaning 'weight' or 'pressure'.