balloon

1 of 3

noun

bal·​loon bə-ˈlün How to pronounce balloon (audio)
plural balloons
1
: a nonporous bag of light material that can be inflated especially with air or gas: such as
a
: a bag that is filled with heated air or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere and that usually carries a suspended load (such as a gondola with passengers)
b
: an inflatable bag (as of rubber or plastic) usually used as a toy or for decoration
c
medical : a small bag that can be inflated (as in a bodily cavity) with air or gas
More than 700,000 Americans undergo procedures in which clogged arteries are cleared out with a balloon and then propped open with a tiny metal scaffold called a stent.Ron Winslow
2
: the outline enclosing words spoken or thought by a figure especially in a cartoon

balloon

2 of 3

adjective

1
: relating to, resembling, or suggesting a balloon
a balloon sleeve
2
US : having or being a final installment that is much larger than preceding ones in a term or installment note
a balloon note
a balloon mortgage
Got a commercial mortgage coming due? If the loan requires a balloon payment (as many such mortgages do), you may have a hard time refinancing …INC

balloon

3 of 3

verb

ballooned; ballooning; balloons

intransitive verb

1
: to swell or puff out : expand
ballooned to 200 pounds
2
: to ascend or travel in or as if in a balloon
3
: to increase rapidly
ballooning prices
Phrases
go over like a lead balloon (US) or British go down like a lead balloon
informal
: to fail completely to impress or amuse other people
Not surprisingly, his overt religiosity has proved a mixed blessing. While probably a winner on the stump, it has gone over like a lead balloon with journalists, liberals, and even many Jewish organizations.Michelle Cottle
But the last time I saw it on stage, in Ned Sherrin's 1996 revival, the dialogue bored me rigid and the whole thing … went down like a lead balloon.David Nice

Examples of balloon in a Sentence

Noun I blew up a balloon but then it burst. brightly colored balloons and other party decorations Verb Their credit card debt ballooned to more than $5,000. the ballooning costs of education
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The fruit and leaves must also be inspected at least once daily for pests and disease—no small feat as their surface area balloons. Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2024 The balloon electrode has sharp prongs that heat up. Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
President Joe Biden delivered remarks about the objects Thursday, downplaying the possibility that the non-balloon objects shot down might also be tied to surveillance efforts. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2023 Such releases have been banned in a handful of states and cities, according to the anti-balloon release organization called Balloons Blow. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Apr. 2022
Verb
Tulsa Remote’s first cohort in 2019 had just 70 participants, but by the time remote work ballooned thanks to the pandemic, the program grew exponentially. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024 Rising college costs and ballooning student debt balances are still a major concern, causing more students to question the return on investment, experts also say. Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for balloon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'balloon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French ballon large football, balloon, from Italian dialect ballone large football, augmentative of balla ball, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ball — more at ball

First Known Use

Noun

1783, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1784, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of balloon was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near balloon

Cite this Entry

“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balloon. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

balloon

1 of 2 noun
bal·​loon bə-ˈlün How to pronounce balloon (audio)
1
: a bag of tough light material filled with heated gas or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere and that usually carries a suspended load (as a gondola with passengers)
2
: a toy or decoration consisting of an inflatable bag (as of rubber)
3
: an outline containing words spoken or thought by a character (as in a cartoon)

balloon

2 of 2 verb
1
: to go up or travel in a balloon
2
: to swell or puff out
3
: to increase rapidly
ballooning prices

Medical Definition

balloon

1 of 2 noun
bal·​loon bə-ˈlün How to pronounce balloon (audio)
: a nonporous bag of tough light material that can be inflated (as in a bodily cavity) with air or gas
gastroesophageal tamponade by introduction of a balloon into the stomach

balloon

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to inflate or distend like a balloon

intransitive verb

: to swell or puff out

Legal Definition

balloon

adjective
bal·​loon
: being or having a final installment that is much larger than preceding ones in an installment or term loan
a balloon payment

Note: In contrast to an amortized loan, a balloon loan is generally repaid in periodic payments of interest and a large, lump sum payment of principal at the end of the term.

More from Merriam-Webster on balloon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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