Barren

Pronunciation: /ˈbærən/

Definitions of barren

adjective unproductive; unfruitful

Example Sentences

A1 The desert was barren with no plants or trees.

A2 The barren landscape made it difficult to find any signs of life.

B1 The barren field had been left uncultivated for years.

B2 The once lush forest had become barren due to deforestation.

C1 The artist used barren colors to convey a sense of emptiness in the painting.

C2 The barren wasteland stretched out as far as the eye could see, devoid of any signs of life.

Examples of barren in a Sentence

formal The barren land was unable to sustain any crops.

informal The field was so barren, not even a weed could grow there.

slang That plot of land is as barren as a desert.

figurative Her heart felt barren after the loss of her loved one.

Grammatical Forms of barren

• past tense: barrened
• plural: barrens
• comparative: barrener
• superlative: barrenest
• present tense: barrens
• future tense: will be barren
• perfect tense: have been barren
• continuous tense: are being barren
• singular: barren
• positive degree: barren
• infinitive: to barren
• gerund: barrening
• participle: barrened

Origin and Evolution of barren

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'barren' originated from the Old French word 'barain' meaning 'sterile, arid'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'barren' has evolved to not only refer to land that is unable to produce vegetation but also to describe a lack of fertility in terms of people or animals.