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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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
Asia was flat to down today as the price of oil remained painfully high—above $114 per barrel. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026 Fletcher and his team have selected barrels from Coy Hill for other special releases over the past few years because this high-elevation location seems to yield some very good—and intensely strong—whiskey. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
Gibbs barreled into the end zone on a 1-yard run in the second quarter and added a 3-yard TD run in the fourth, bouncing off the offensive line before reversing field and finding room to run. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 Surveillance video shows three vehicles circling the parking lot before a white Toyota Tacoma barrels through the storefront, shattering glass and sending employees running. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 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 audacity to try is a matter of courage—and Cohen, the primary vocalist, has a ton.
    — Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Your dock is there, but Apple still limits it to four icons, leaving a ton of unused space above and below it.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of ton
Noun
  • Thanks in part to that retirement party, Sacramento library patrons can check out hundreds of different pans, muffin tins and cookie cutters from the Shari Nichelini Cake Pan Library.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Her home is built of tin and a tarp, constructed under a flyover in the capital New Delhi.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of tin
Noun
  • The mollusks can form dense colonies that clog pipes, obstruct water flow and foul boat motors.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Prolonged pump stoppages could lead to a disastrous local scenario of ruptured water supply, district heating, and sewage pipes, even if electricity remains available elsewhere in the country.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pipe
Verb
  • With Sandburg racing out to 7-1 and 8-3 leads in the third game, that came in handy.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic needs to keep racing and needs the rest of the business world to keep up.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of race
Noun
  • Cranes lift 200-ton loads at mountain bridge site The R4300-200 has a maximum lifting capacity of 200 metric tons (220 US tons) and an 80-meter jib (262 feet).
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Its remaining civil rights workers have described untenable case loads and pressure to dismiss complaints.
    — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of loads
Noun
  • There are rippling gasps, drums, strings, sax, a vaguely Latin guitar, a sample of a woman talking about getting her hair done.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The oversized drum shade is the main attraction here, giving this floor lamp a little extra presence.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of drum
Verb
  • Researchers have identified a new bacterial enzyme that speeds up the breakdown of polyesters and bioplastics.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Several commissioners hope First & Early could speed up the project timeline.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • The advance notice allowed Baugh and his colleagues to alert dozens of grooms living in the barns to evacuate before the flood reached them.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The ruling allowed Oregon and dozens of other Western localities to limit where individuals living in cars, parks and other encampments stayed.
    — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barrel

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