noun
Uncommon
barrage
BA-rahzh
Barrage (noun) means a sudden, heavy, and continuous stream of something, especially words, questions, or gunfire. Example: “The politician faced a barrage of questions from reporters after the announcement.”
noun
1
A sudden, heavy, and continuous stream of something, especially words, questions, or gunfire.
"The politician faced a barrage of questions from reporters after the announcement."
"The soldiers advanced under cover of an artillery barrage."
2
A man-made barrier across a river built to control its depth or flow.
"The barrage regulates water levels for irrigation downstream."
verb
1
To attack or overwhelm with a continuous stream of something.
"Fans barraged the band's social media with requests for a reunion tour."
How to use barrage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn intense, nonstop flood of something — questions, criticism, gunfire, or similar.
Common pairings
a barrage of questions
a barrage of criticism
an artillery barrage
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Word forms
- Plural
- barrages
- Third person singular
- barrages
- Past tense
- barraged
Fill the gap
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The politician faced a _____ of questions from reporters after the announcement.
Etymology
Borrowed from French barrage ("barrier"), related to barrier, around 1859.
Class of 1859
barrage joined the language around 1859.
See the full Class of 1859 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for barrage
See all rhymes for barrage →Frequently asked questions
What does “barrage” mean?
The word “barrage” means a sudden, heavy, and continuous stream of something, especially words, questions, or gunfire. In plain terms, an intense, nonstop flood of something — questions, criticism, gunfire, or similar.
How do you pronounce “barrage”?
“Barrage” is pronounced BA-rahzh (/bəˈɹɑʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “barrage” in a sentence?
Here is “barrage” used in a sentence: “The politician faced a barrage of questions from reporters after the announcement.”
What part of speech is “barrage”?
Depending on how it is used, “barrage” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “barrage” come from?
The word “barrage” dates back to around 1859 and comes from French. Borrowed from French barrage ("barrier"), related to barrier, around 1859.
Is “barrage” a common word?
“Barrage” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “barrage” have?
“Barrage” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, heavy, and continuous stream of something, especially words, questions, or gunfire.
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