counterweight

noun

coun·​ter·​weight ˈkau̇n-tər-ˌwāt How to pronounce counterweight (audio)
: an equivalent weight or force : counterbalance
counterweight transitive verb

Examples of counterweight in a Sentence

The crane has a heavy counterweight on the back. hard work can often be a counterweight to modest intelligence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To reduce movement during strong winds, LeMessurier also proposed installing a huge counterweight, known as a tuned mass damper, in the tower’s upper floors. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025 America’s strategy for more than a decade has been to pull India closer into the Western and democratic orbit as a counterweight to its main autocratic rivals and adversaries. Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025 The company is seen as strategically important to Washington’s efforts in seeking a national semiconductor champion to act as a counterweight to China’s global chip production, Semafor reported last year. semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2025 Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, China—the U.S.’s strategic counterweight—is expanding its influence through a different playbook: one that leans on empowering the private sector to drive innovation, scale, and long-term self-reliance. Time, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for counterweight

Word History

First Known Use

1693, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of counterweight was in 1693

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Cite this Entry

“Counterweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/counterweight. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

counterweight

noun
coun·​ter·​weight ˈkau̇nt-ər-ˌwāt How to pronounce counterweight (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on counterweight

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