barring

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An exception or an obstacle can be referred to as "barring" something. For example, bad weather might bar us from going for a hike.

When we use the word "bar", it means to stop or block something from happening. In everyday life, people often say that one thing bars another. We might say that lack of money bars us from buying a new house, meaning that our financial situation is holding us back. Or we could say that illness bars a person from traveling abroad, indicating that their health condition prevents them from going overseas. The word "barring" can also be used as an adverb, which means it modifies the verb and gives more information about what's happening. For instance: "Barring any further complications, we should be able to finish the project on time." Here, "barring" tells us that everything is okay so far, but there might still be some unexpected issues ahead.

How common is "barring"?

Word barring is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions

verb

  • present participle and gerund of bar

Real examples of "barring" in context

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