equilibrium

noun

equi·lib·ri·um | \ ˌē-kwə-ˈli-brē-əm

, ˌe-\

plural equilibriums or equilibria\ ˌē-kwə-ˈli-brē-ə

, ˌe- \

Definition of equilibrium

1a : a state of intellectual or emotional balance : poise trying to recover his equilibrium

b : a state of adjustment between opposing or divergent influences or elements

2 : a state of balance between opposing forces or actions that is either static (as in a body acted on by forces whose resultant is zero) or dynamic (as in a reversible chemical reaction when the rates of reaction in both directions are equal)

3 : balance sense 3a

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about equilibrium

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Examples of equilibrium in a Sentence

Supply and demand were in equilibrium. we must find an equilibrium between commercial development and conservation of our natural treasures

Recent Examples on the Web

Libra — Storm With a fixation on creating equilibrium around them, Libras have all too much in common with the X-Men team member Storm, whose ability to control the weather is without limits. — Marilyn La Jeunesse, Teen Vogue, "Which Superhero You Are According to Your Zodiac Sign," 26 Apr. 2019 There are two main suspects for this slow-growth equilibrium: demographics and productivity. — Greg Ip, WSJ, "The Global Boom, Barely Begun, May Be Over," 23 Jan. 2019 Will somebody please buy me this enormous sleep contraction, that uses resonance to literally rearrange the magnetic fields around your body, lulling you into equilibrium? — Brennan Kilbane, GQ, "All the New Tech That’s Upgrading Your Sleep Routine," 30 Mar. 2018 So as long as the moves don’t go too far, increases in inflation and interest rates would be a sign the global economy is returning to a more prosperous equilibrium like the one that prevailed before 2008. — Tory Newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Hensarling compromise clears a path for bank deregulation," 27 Apr. 2018 The painting’s sublime feeling of complete equilibrium derives from the precision with which Leonardo arranges the elements within the diagonal quadrants. — Tom L. Freudenheim, WSJ, "A Portrait Both Sensible and Sensual," 11 Jan. 2019 Eventually the two sides settled into the current equilibrium where, in most new cars, the carmakers’ operating systems simply live side-by-side with CarPlay and Android Auto. — Sean O'kane, The Verge, "Amazon’s Echo Auto is another quick fix for the broken state of in-car infotainment," 21 Sep. 2018 Trump could disrupt this equilibrium at any moment — by firing Sessions or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein (who actually oversees the probe), or by trying to fire Mueller. — Andrew Prokop, Vox, "Trump sends agitated tweet calling for Jeff Sessions to end Mueller investigation," 1 Aug. 2018 Asset prices could then have found a more durable equilibrium and laid a stronger foundation for future growth. — Kevin Warsh, WSJ, "Fed Tightening? Not Now," 16 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'equilibrium.' 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 equilibrium

equilibrium moisture content

equilibrium price

Statistics for equilibrium

Last Updated

7 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for equilibrium

The first known use of equilibrium was in 1608

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More Definitions for equilibrium

equilibrium

noun

English Language Learners Definition of equilibrium

: a state in which opposing forces or actions are balanced so that one is not stronger or greater than the other

: a state of emotional balance or calmness

See the full definition for equilibrium in the English Language Learners Dictionary

equilibrium

noun

equi·lib·ri·um | \ ˌē-kwə-ˈli-brē-əm

, ˌe-kwə-\

Kids Definition of equilibrium

1 : a state of balance between opposing forces or actions

2 : the normal balanced state of the body that is maintained by the inner ear and that keeps a person or animal from falling

equilibrium

noun

equi·lib·ri·um | \ ˌē-kwə-ˈlib-rē-əm

, ˌek-wə-

plural equilibriums or equilibria\ -rē-ə

Medical Definition of equilibrium

1 : a state of balance between opposing forces or actions that is either static (as in a body acted on by forces whose resultant is zero) or dynamic (as in a reversible chemical reaction when the velocities in both directions are equal)

2 : a state of intellectual or emotional balance