Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense barnstorms, present participle barnstorming, past tense, past participle barnstormed
verb
When people such as politicians or performers barnstorm, they travel around the country making speeches or giving shows.
[US]
He barnstormed across the nation, rallying the people to the cause. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The president travels thousands of miles as he barnstorms the country. [VERB noun]
...his barnstorming campaign for the governorship of Louisiana. [VERB-ing]
[Also VERB]
barnstorm in British English
(ˈbɑːnˌstɔːm)
verb(intransitive)
1.
to tour rural districts putting on shows, esp theatrical, athletic, or acrobatic shows
2. mainly US and Canadian
to tour rural districts making speeches in a political campaign
Derived forms
barnstormer (ˈbarnˌstormer)
noun
barnstorming (ˈbarnˌstorming)
noun, adjective
Word origin
C19: from barn1 + storm (vb); from the performances often being in barns
barnstorm in American English
(ˈbɑrnˌstɔrm)
verb intransitive, verb transitive
1.
to go about (the country) performing plays, giving lectures or campaign speeches, playing exhibition games, etc., esp. in small towns and rural districts
2.
in the early days of aviation, to tour (the country) giving short airplane rides, exhibitions of stunt flying, etc.
Derived forms
barnstormer (ˈbarnˌstormer)
noun
Word origin
barn + , storm (sense 8): from occas. use of barns as auditoriums; (sense 2) from the use of barns as hangars
Examples of 'barnstorm' in a sentence
barnstorm
A fitting climax to a barnstorming tour.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He gave a barnstorming performance.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Next year's forecast slowdown comes after a barnstorming performance last year when it notched up a 25 per cent rise in sales.