balance

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noun bal·ance \ ˈba-lən(t)s \

Definition of balance

1 :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

2 :a means of judging or deciding

the balance of a free election

3 :a counterbalancing weight, force, or influence

The comedic character serves as a balance to the serious subject matter of the play.

4 :an oscillating wheel operating with a hairspring to regulate the movement of a timepiece

a watch's balance

5 a :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

6 a :an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements

achieving balance in a work of art

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

7 a :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.

8 a :weight or force of one side in excess of another

The balance of the evidence lay on the side of the defendant.

b :something left over :remainder

answers will be given in the balance of this chapter
—R. W. Murray

c 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.

9 :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

—

balanced

play \-lən(t)st\ adjective

— 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

See balance defined for English-language learners

See balance defined for kids

Examples of balance in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of balance from the Web

Beshear, meanwhile, continues to sit on a big balance of funds remaining from his inaugural fund of 2011.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Gov. Matt Bevin's inauguration fund gives half mil to a new charity: #WeAreKY!," 20 July 2017
Competitors try to get through a series of complex obstacles with names like Salmon Ladder and Warped Wall that require tremendous strength, agility, balance and timing.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Powered by beef, Idaho’s ‘Cowboy Ninja’ makes a sixth run at $1 million prize," 18 July 2017
Their flirtations fill the time between the incredible acts of skill, beauty and balance that Cirque is known for.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Jumping, juggling bugs captivate children at 'Ovo'," 14 July 2017
According to the report of the fatal incident, Anaya was standing on a rock and pushing against a shrub his partner was cutting with a 24-inch chainsaw when a branch snapped and Anaya lost his balance.

— david hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Report: Inmate firefighter suffered fatal injury from partner's chainsaw," 14 July 2017
Luznik and colleagues have sought the right balance by giving high doses of cyclophosphamide, a chemotherapy drug with immunosuppressive effects, shortly after transplantation.

— jon cohen, Science | AAAS, "A stem cell transplant helped beat back a young doctor’s cancer. Now, it’s assaulting his body," 12 July 2017
Ronald Jay Scaife, 23, of Edgewood, was sentenced Friday to two consecutive life terms with 70 years to serve in the Division of Correction and the balance suspended, according to court officials.

— staff report, The Aegis, "Two men sentenced in attempted murder in December 2015," 11 July 2017
That said, Gunnar warns newbies to start slow, using a human or nearby wall for balance.

— elizabeth narins, Cosmopolitan, "Slacklining Is The Hottest Way to Lift Your Booty," 10 July 2017
Sitting in a wet bathing suit can upset the pH balance of the vagina and irritate all areas of the vagina.

— brittney mcnamara, Teen Vogue, "How to Keep Your Vagina Healthy All Summer," 6 July 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of balance

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *bilancia, from Late Latin bilanc-, bilanx having two scalepans, from Latin bi- + lanc-, lanx plate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

balance Synonyms

Synonyms

counterpoise, equilibration, equilibrium, equipoise, poise, stasis

Antonyms

disequilibration, disequilibrium, imbalance, nonequilibrium, unbalance

Related Words

counterbalance, offset; firmness, fixedness, security, stability, steadiness

Near Antonyms

changeability, fluctuation, inconstancy, insecurity, instability, mutability, precariousness, shakiness, unsteadiness, volatility

balance

verb

Definition of balance

balanced; balancing

transitive verb

1 a (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

2 a :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.

3 :to weigh in or as if in a balance (see ¹balance 1)

balance the profit and loss to see what had been gained

4 a :to bring to a state or position of balance (see ¹balance 5)

balanced the scales by adding a little more on one side

b :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.

c :to bring into harmony or proportion

I struggled to balance my career and family life.

a balanced diet

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 1

balances and temporizes on matters that demand action

See balance defined for English-language learners

Examples of balance in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of balance from the Web

Was incredibly hard to balance esthetics and function.

— eric limer, Popular Mechanics, "Elon Musk Teases the First Image of the SpaceX Spacesuit," 23 Aug. 2017
Salma Hayek has officially won the award for best houseguest ever after cooking dinner at Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's home, all while balancing their 10-month-old daughter, Inez, on her hip.

— cara zimmerman, Harper's BAZAAR, "Salma Hayek Cooks Dinner At Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's Home," 11 Aug. 2017
The red ants open the show with a precise, jaw-dropping, foot-juggling act; then a dragonfly performs an amazing hand-balancing act that had my kids both oooh-ing and ew-ing at his strength and flexibility.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Jumping, juggling bugs captivate children at 'Ovo'," 14 July 2017
In Naperville District 203, a series of September sessions focusing on digital citizenship and balancing life in the age of technology, led by speaker Devorah Heitner of Raising Digital Natives, are planned.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Plans under way for new year of Chromebook technology in schools," 30 June 2017
If your son is having problems balancing his commitments—one student recently fretted about how to squeeze in his Theater History final exam between modeling shoots—that’s his problem.

— daniel mendelsohn, Town & Country, "How to Raise a Proper College Student," 28 June 2017
In fact, Kasich's belief in balancing tax cuts with other tax hikes drew criticism from some conservatives.

— jessie balmert, Cincinnati.com, "No, Ohio doesn't have the same problems as Kansas," 21 June 2017
The lack of agreement on how to pay for steep individual and corporate tax-rate cuts has prompted key GOP lawmakers to cast doubt on the need for legislation that balances the cuts with other provisions that raise revenue.

— sahil kapur, Bloomberg.com, "Ryan Gives Tax-Overhaul Pep Talk Amid Growing Doubts in GOP," 20 June 2017
A slight glitch so far: Gizmo has a gyroscope inside that keeps the iPad balanced over the pole and wheels and the robot appears to bob slightly forward and back.

— anne ryman, azcentral, "A robot named Gizmo attends university classes for you," 19 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of balance

see ¹balance

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1588

See Words from the same year

balance Synonyms

Synonyms

equalize, equate, even, level

Antonyms

dive (in), plunge (in)

Related Words

equilibrate, equipoise; accommodate, adjust, compensate, fit; counterbalance; homogenize, normalize, regularize, standardize; democratize

Near Antonyms

disequilibrate

BALANCE Defined for English Language Learners

balance

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noun

Definition of balance for English Language Learners

: the state of having your weight spread equally so that you do not fall
: the ability to move or to remain in a position without losing control or falling
: a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts or have an equal or proper amount of importance

balance

verb

Definition of balance for English Language Learners

: to make (something, such as a plate or your body) steady by keeping weight equal on all sides
: to adjust (an account or budget) so that the amount of money available is more than or equal to the amount of money that has been spent
: to check and make adjustments to financial records so that they are accurate

BALANCE Defined for Kids

balance

play

noun bal·ance \ ˈba-ləns \

Definition of balance for Students

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

History for balance

The first meaning of the word balance was “an instrument used to weigh things.” Some weighing instruments have two small pans on either side, into which equal amounts must be placed to keep the beam that holds the pans from tipping. The English word balance came from a Latin word that meant literally “having two pans.” This Latin word, bilanx, is a compound of bi-, “two,” and lanx, “dish, pan of a pair of scales.”

balance

verb

Definition of balance for Students

balanced; balancing

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.

Medical Dictionary

balance

play

noun bal·ance \ ˈbal-ən(t)s \

medical Definition of balance

1 :an instrument for weighing

2 :mental and emotional steadiness

3 a :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

Learn More about balance

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balance

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balance

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