balance

noun

bal·ance | \ ˈba-lən(t)s

Definition of balance

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : physical equilibrium trouble keeping your balance on a sailboat lost his balance and fell a boxer kept off balance for a whole round

b : the ability to retain one's balance Gymnasts must have a good sense of balance.

2a : stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis when the two sides of the scale are in balance tipped the statue off balance

b : equipoise between contrasting, opposing, or interacting elements … the balance we strike between security and freedom.— Earl Warren Both parties were interviewed to provide balance in the report. the right balance of diet and exercise

c accounting : equality between the totals of the two sides of an account

3a : an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements achieving balance in a work of art

b grammar : the juxtaposition in writing of syntactically parallel (see parallel entry 1 sense 3c) constructions containing similar or contrasting ideas (such as "to err is human; to forgive, divine")

4a accounting : an amount in excess especially on the credit side of an account has a comfortable balance in the bank You must maintain a minimum balance of $1000 in your account to avoid fees.

b : weight or force of one side in excess of another The balance of the evidence lay on the side of the defendant.

c : something left over : remainder answers will be given in the balance of this chapter— R. W. Murray

5 : mental and emotional steadiness I doubt that Thoreau would be thrown off balance by the fantastic sights and sounds of the 20th century.— E. B. White

6 : an instrument for weighing: such as

a : a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends

b : a device that uses the elasticity of a spiral spring for measuring weight or force

7 : a means of judging or deciding the balance of a free election

8 : a counterbalancing weight, force, or influence The comedic character serves as a balance to the serious subject matter of the play.

9 : an oscillating wheel operating with a hairspring to regulate the movement of a timepiece a watch's balance

in the balance or in balance

: with the fate or outcome about to be determined our future hangs in the balance as we await his decision

on balance

: with all things considered the meeting went well on balance

balance

verb

balanced; balancing

Definition of balance (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to poise or arrange in or as if in balance balancing a book on her head The legislature hasn't balanced the budget in years.

b : to bring into harmony or proportion I struggled to balance my career and family life. a balanced diet

c : to bring to a state or position of balance (see balance entry 1 sense 2) balanced the scales by adding a little more on one side

2a(1) accounting : to compute the difference between the debits and credits of (an account) balancing a company's books

(2) : to pay the amount due on : settle sent a check to balance her account

b(1) : to arrange so that one set of elements exactly equals another balance a mathematical equation

(2) chemistry : to complete (a chemical equation) so that the same number of atoms and electric charges of each kind appears on each side

3a : counterbalance, offset He served black coffee to help balance out the sweetness of the dessert. balance one consideration against another

b : to equal or equalize in weight, number, or proportion The good times balanced the bad times.

4 : to weigh in or as if in a balance (see balance entry 1 sense 6) balance the profit and loss to see what had been gained

intransitive verb

1 : to become balanced or established in balance Try balancing on one foot. The good times and bad times balanced out.

2 : to be an equal counterbalance —often used with out His speed will likely balance out his competitor's greater strength.The discount and the shipping charge balance each other out.

3 : waver sense 1 balances and temporizes on matters that demand action

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing balance Learn More About balance

Examples of balance in a Sentence

Noun She had trouble keeping her balance as the boat rocked back and forth. The skater suddenly lost his balance and fell. Another skater bumped into him and knocked him off balance. Gymnasts need flexibility and balance. She has a good sense of balance. To provide balance in her news story, she interviewed members of both political parties. Temperature changes could upset the delicate balance of life in the forest. To lose weight you need the proper balance of diet and exercise. The food had a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors. It's important to keep your life in balance. Verb I find it difficult to balance on one foot. He had trouble balancing on his skis. He helped his daughter balance on her bicycle before she started peddling. The legislature is still trying to balance the state's budget. He balances his checkbook every month. Something's wrong: the books don't balance. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Among the top worries: anxiety over contracting COVID-19, and struggles with work-life balance. — Anne D'innocenzio, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2022 Decentralized networks will have the potential to shift that power balance. — Josh Wilson, Forbes, 8 May 2022 The Mavericks have found scoring balance and are winning the mental battle right now. — Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 8 May 2022 If this area becomes too high in iron, the balance will eventually tip. — Allison Chinchar, CNN, 7 May 2022 Hayley Atwell's Captain Carter and Lashana Lynch's Captain Marvel are new (but very sensible) additions and definitely help with the gender balance. — Christian Holub, EW.com, 7 May 2022 For instance, consider a 0% balance transfer credit card or a low-interest personal loan. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 May 2022 Saha Self-Care creates an art form out of this difficult balance with a delicate combination that is both powerful and THC-free. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 6 May 2022 Any working mom will tell you, trying to find that work-life balance is a daily struggle, especially during motherhood's more challenging moments. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, 6 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Srikant Tiwari sets off on another roller coaster ride, trying to balance life as a common man and a top-secret agent battling terrorists, rebels and moral dilemmas. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Apr. 2022 Restaurants and food companies are trying to balance raising prices to offset more expensive ingredients and wages against consumers’ ability and willingness to pay higher prices. — Heather Haddon, WSJ, 28 Apr. 2022 However, in practice, China may be trying to balance continued economic links with Russia while preserving its relationship with the West. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2022 That gives confidence to smaller countries in Asia and elsewhere that are also trying to balance their relations with world powers, Stobdan said. — NBC News, 2 Apr. 2022 Johnson said he was thrust into an election and has been trying to balance governing the city with campaigning for office. — D. Kwas, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2022 More than one month into the conflict, Israel’s Prime Minister has yet to openly condemn Russia, instead trying to balance a fine line between Israel’s Western allies, including the United States, and its strategic relationship with the Kremlin. — Ellie Kaufman, CNN, 28 Mar. 2022 Siân Heder’s family drama that tells the story of a young girl trying to balance her love of music with her family’s economic future packs a wallop in its final 20 minutes, bringing even some critics of its simple approach to a puddle of tears. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 22 Mar. 2022 So picture me, with an unexpectedly large amount of car to my left, trying to balance on the clutch as cars nip and tuck down a street not wide enough for two to drive abreast, with a two-foot-thick medieval wall just beyond my rearview mirror. — Mike Mcshane, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'balance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near balance

balan-

balance

balance a/the budget

Statistics for balance

Last Updated

11 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Balance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balance. Accessed 17 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for balance

balance

noun

bal·ance | \ ˈba-ləns

Kids Definition of balance

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a steady position or condition The gymnast kept her balance.

2 : something left over : remainder He spent the balance of his allowance.

3 : an instrument for weighing

4 : a state in which things occur in equal or proper amounts a balance of work and fun

5 : the amount of money in a bank account

6 : an amount of money still owed

balance

verb

balanced; balancing

Kids Definition of balance (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to make or keep steady : keep from falling … their slippery … forefeet did not allow them to balance there.— Dick King-Smith, Pigs Might Fly

2 : to make the two sides of (an account) add up to the same total

3 : to be or make equal in weight, number, or amount You must balance your schoolwork and outside activities.

balance

noun

bal·ance | \ ˈbal-ən(t)s

Medical Definition of balance

1 : an instrument for weighing

2 : mental and emotional steadiness

3a : the relation in physiology between the intake of a particular substance and its excretion —used with positive when the intake of a substance is greater than the body's excretion of it and with negative when the intake of a substance is less than the body's excretion of it — see nitrogen balance, water balance

b : the maintenance (as in laboratory cultures) of a population at about the same condition and level