balancing act

noun

plural balancing acts
: an attempt to handle or deal with two or more things (such as obligations) at one time so as to satisfy often competing requirements
"It's a difficult balancing act between celebrating the past and making room for the future."Jeffrey Brown
Vegas might be the starkest example of what the hospitality industry faces across the country: a delicate balancing act between bringing back jobs and revenue and keeping workers and customers safe from a virus that's killed more than 100,000 Americans.Dave Jamieson
It's a balancing act between appreciation, education and safety. Earlier this year, London city council voted to tighten up a parks bylaw that restricts the amount of food residents can feed to wild animals.Megan Stacey

Examples of balancing act in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Too much moisture throws off this delicate balancing act and can cause a microscopic breakdown of your barrier. Melanie Rud, SELF, 11 Oct. 2024 CEOs were forced to raise prices in a balancing act between cost recovery and customer value. Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2024 Conclusion In the workplace, the art of letting go is a balancing act between caring deeply about outcomes and maintaining proper emotional distance from aspects beyond our influence. Divya Divakaran, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 In today’s turbulent business landscape, executives are caught in a delicate balancing act. Shane Buckley, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for balancing act 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of balancing act was in 1907

Dictionary Entries Near balancing act

Cite this Entry

“Balancing act.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balancing%20act. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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