unbar C1 Topic:Actions & Processes US /ʌnˈbɑr/ UK /ʌnˈbɑː/ See IPA manual Freq #237932 Meanings 1 verb to remove a bar or bolt from a door, gate, or other entrance The guard agreed to unbar the gate at sunrise. 2 verb figurative: to remove an obstacle or prohibition and allow access The ruling could unbar the path to a new election. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to remove a bar or bolt... unboltunlockopen 2 verb · figurative: to remove an... clearpermitopen ↔ Opposites barboltblock Word family Forms unbarring Related forms barrieradmit Etymology From Middle English unbarren, formed from the reversing prefix un- + bar. The literal removal of a door bar gave rise to the broader sense of removing an obstacle or prohibition. Topics Actions & Processes External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # unbar **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /ʌnˈbɑr/ **IPA (UK):** /ʌnˈbɑː/ **Frequency rank:** 237932 ## Meanings 1. to remove a bar or bolt from a door, gate, or other entrance 2. figurative: to remove an obstacle or prohibition and allow access ## Examples - The guard agreed to unbar the gate at sunrise. - The ruling could unbar the path to a new election. ## Synonyms - unbolt - unlock - open - clear ## Antonyms - bar - bolt - block ## Related Forms - barrier - admit ## Etymology From Middle English unbarren, formed from the reversing prefix un- + bar. The literal removal of a door bar gave rise to the broader sense of removing an obstacle or prohibition. ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown