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 adjective
barny 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.
The Hatches lined a 6-foot pit with rocks and mortar and kept building higher — extending the walls 16 feet high inside their family barn. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026 Beyond its scale and cinematic scenery, the estate has also hosted major family milestones, including David Lauren’s 2011 wedding to Lauren Bush in the historic Vance barn. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 May 2026 The tornado damaged an old barn, which lost 30-40% of its roof and wall, and destroyed a small barn, carrying the debris about a quarter mile to the northeast. Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026 As Jacobs described the difference between photographs created with light and images created in data-center darkness, the generator flashed an image of the interior of a barn. Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 19 May 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barn. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

barn

noun
: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun
: a unit of area equal to 10−24 square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section

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