barnstorm

verb

barn·​storm ˈbärn-ˌstȯrm How to pronounce barnstorm (audio)
barnstormed; barnstorming; barnstorms
Synonyms of barnstormnext

intransitive verb

1
: to tour through rural districts staging usually theatrical performances
2
: to travel from place to place making brief stops (as in a political campaign or a promotional tour)
3
: to pilot one's airplane in sightseeing flights with passengers or in exhibition stunts in an unscheduled course especially in rural districts

transitive verb

: to travel across while barnstorming
barnstormer noun

Examples of barnstorm in a Sentence

He spent the months leading up to the election barnstorming around the country. The national soccer team barnstormed through the country.
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.
Both candidates are spending the final week before Election Day barnstorming the state. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026 The days and weeks leading up to the election have seen the president barnstorming through red states, a sign of concern with the base's enthusiasm. — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 In contrast, Hilton has been publicly barnstorming California since the June primary. — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 The six-team, barnstorming Banana Ball Championship League, headed by the Savannah Bananas, will play exhibitions in the Mexican cities of Monterrey and Tijuana and the Canadian cities of Winnipeg and Toronto. — Jim Halley, AJC.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barnstorm

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barnstorm was in 1883

Rhymes for barnstorm

See All Rhymes for barnstorm

Browse Nearby Words

Barnstable
barnstorm
barn swallow
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barnstorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barnstorm. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

barnstorm

verb
barn·​storm ˈbärn-ˌstȯrm How to pronounce barnstorm (audio)
: to travel through the country making brief stops to entertain (as with shows or flying stunts) or to campaign for political office
barnstormer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on barnstorm

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for barnstorm

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