What it means
んばかりに expresses an appearance so intense that it seems as though someone is about to perform an action or is nearly in a certain state. It commonly describes an outward sign rather than a literal action that actually occurs. The expression has a formal, literary tone and is especially common in written narratives, reports, and elevated descriptions.
Usage note
んばかりに normally follows the negative stem of a verb, with the negative ending ない omitted; for example, 泣かない becomes 泣かん. With する, the form is せんばかりに. Do not confuse it with んばかりだ or んばかりの, which serve different grammatical roles.
Example sentences
長年の努力が実った知らせに、彼は泣き出さんばかりに目を潤ませた。
At the news that his years of effort had borne fruit, his eyes filled with tears as though he were about to cry.
古い灯台は、今にも崩れんばかりに荒波を受け止めていた。
The old lighthouse was enduring the rough waves as though it might collapse at any moment.