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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

barraged past tense, barrages plural, barrages singular

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Etymology

Borrowed from French barrage ("barrier"), related to barrier, around 1859.

Origin: French · First attested 1859

Class of 1859 barrage joined the language around 1859.
See the full Class of 1859 →

Related words

Rhymes for barrage

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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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