barn

noun

ˈbärn How to pronounce barn (audio)
1
a
: a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment
b
: an unusually large and usually bare building
… a great barn of a hotel …—W. A. White
2
: a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (such as trolley cars or trucks)
barnlike
ˈbärn-ˌlīk How to pronounce barn (audio)
adjective
barny
ˈbär-nē How to pronounce barn (audio)
adjective

Examples of barn in a Sentence

They live in a big barn of a house.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Several barns were also heavily damaged, and many low-lying roads were flooded. — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 The hay is officially in the barn for the Dallas Cowboys, as their monthlong training camp and preseason have officially wrapped. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2026 Someone moving to Litchfield County may want acreage, solitude, or a barn that can be turned into a studio. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 Aug. 2026 Ranchers and a livestock commission were offering barns to temporarily hold animals that need to be evacuated. — John Seewer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barn

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bern, from Old English bereærn, from bere barley + ærn house, store

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of barn was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing barn

Rhymes for barn

See All Rhymes for barn

Browse Nearby Words

barmy
barn
Barnabas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barn. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

barn

noun
ˈbärn How to pronounce barn (audio)
: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun
ˈbärn How to pronounce barn (audio)
: a unit of area equal to 10−24 square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section

More from Merriam-Webster on barn

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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