bar
gb/bˈɑɹ/ us/bˈɑɹ/
A2
English
~ 1100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Place serving alcoholic drinks
A place where you can buy and drink alcohol, like beer or wine.
Usage pattern:
to go to [a bar]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bar' with 'pub' or 'club'; a club often has dancing and loud music, while a bar is mainly for drinking and talking.
Synonyms
pub (More common in British English; often suggests a more casual, traditional place.)
|
tavern (Slightly old-fashioned; may suggest a rustic or themed place.)
Antonyms
cafe (A place focused on coffee and light food, not alcoholic drinks.)
Collocations
go to a bar
|crowded bar
|local bar
|sports bar
|bar counter
Themes
daily life
|food and drink
|leisure
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- We met at a small bar near the station.
- The new bar downtown has live music every Friday.
- He works as a bartender in a busy bar.
Learner examples
- I went to a bar with my friends.
- The bar is next to the hotel.
- She works in a bar.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Rigid straight piece of material
A long, straight, hard piece of metal, wood, or other material.
Usage pattern:
[a bar] of [material]
Common mistake:
Sometimes confused with 'pole'; poles are usually round and vertical, bars can be horizontal or vertical.
Synonyms
rod (Usually thinner and more cylindrical than a bar.)
Antonyms
tube (Hollow inside, unlike a solid bar.)
Collocations
iron bar
|metal bar
|prison bars
|steel bar
Themes
construction
|objects
|work
|housing
Examples
- The window was protected by iron bars.
- He lifted the heavy steel bar with ease.
- They used wooden bars to support the roof.
Learner examples
- There is a metal bar across the door.
- The cage has strong bars.
- He broke the wooden bar.
Noun
B2
entity
3
The legal profession as a whole
All the lawyers in a country or area as a group.
Usage pattern:
to be called to [the bar]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'bar' here means a physical location; it refers to the profession itself.
Synonyms
legal profession (General term without metaphorical origin.)
Collocations
member of the bar
|called to the bar
Themes
law
|work
Examples
- She was admitted to the bar in 2010.
- The bar has strict rules about ethics.
- He is respected by members of the bar.
Learner examples
- She joined the bar last year.
- He is a member of the bar.
- The bar makes rules for lawyers.
Noun
A2
entity
4
Solid block of food or substance
A solid piece of something like chocolate or soap that is usually long and rectangular.
Usage pattern:
[a bar] of [substance]
Synonyms
block (Any solid mass; less specific about shape.)
Collocations
bar of chocolate
|energy bar
|gold bar
Themes
food and drink
|objects
|daily_life
|food_drink
Examples
- She bought a bar of chocolate.
- The thief stole gold bars from the vault.
- I keep an energy bar in my bag.
Learner examples
- I ate a bar of chocolate.
- He bought three gold bars.
- She gave me an energy bar.
Verb
B1
action
5
Prevent entry or action
To stop someone from going into a place or doing something.
Usage pattern:
to bar [someone] from [something]
Synonyms
block (More general; can refer to physical or abstract prevention.)
|
prohibit (More formal/legal tone; often used in official rules.)
Antonyms
allow (Permitting entry or action instead of preventing it.)
Collocations
bar entry
|bar someone from entering
Themes
law
|security
|daily_life
Examples
- They barred him from entering the club.
- Heavy snow barred access to the village.
- She was barred from applying for the position.
Learner examples
- The guard barred us from going in.
- The door was barred with wood.
- He was barred from the game.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bar
IPA
GB/bˈɑɹ/
US/bˈɑɹ/
Syllables & stress
bar (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (bar)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: bar
- 3rd Person Singular: bars
- Present Participle: barring
- Past: barred
Word family
Forms
bars
verb
barring
verb
barred
verb
Core family
bartender
noun B1
Advanced or less common
barrister
noun C1
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: barring Verb
- Irregular past: barred Verb
Expressions
/set the bar/ (high/low)
1/sˈɛt ðə bˈɑɹ hˈaɪəloʊ/
fixed phrase
Establish a standard level of quality or achievement
To decide how good something must be to be acceptable or the best it can be.
Examples
- The company has set the bar high for customer service.
- His performance set the bar for future contestants.
call to the bar
1/kˈɔl tə ðə bˈɑɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
Admit lawyer to profession officially
When someone becomes an official lawyer after passing tests and requirements.
Examples
- She was called to the bar last year after completing her training.
- Many graduates dream of being called to the bar.
bar none
1/bˈɑɹ nˈʌn/
idiom
informal
Without exception at all
Used to say that something is the best compared to all others, with no exceptions.
Examples
- This is the best pizza in town, bar none.
- He is the best player on the team, bar none.
- She is the smartest student here, bar none.
- This is the finest meal I’ve had, bar none.
behind bars
1/bɪhˈaɪnd bˈɑɹz/
idiom
In prison or jail
In prison after being caught by the police.
Examples
- The criminal is now behind bars for life.
- He spent two years behind bars for fraud.
behind bars
2/bɪhˈaɪnd bˈɑɹz/
idiom
In prison or jail
In prison; locked up by the police.
Examples
- The criminal is now behind bars for life.
- He spent five years behind bars.