balloon

1 of 3

noun

bal·​loon bə-ˈlün How to pronounce balloon (audio)
plural balloons
1
: a nonporous bag of light material that can be inflated especially with air or gas: such as
a
: a bag that is filled with heated air or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere and that usually carries a suspended load (such as a gondola with passengers)
b
: an inflatable bag (as of rubber or plastic) usually used as a toy or for decoration
c
medical : a small bag that can be inflated (as in a bodily cavity) with air or gas
More than 700,000 Americans undergo procedures in which clogged arteries are cleared out with a balloon and then propped open with a tiny metal scaffold called a stent.Ron Winslow
2
: the outline enclosing words spoken or thought by a figure especially in a cartoon

balloon

2 of 3

adjective

1
: relating to, resembling, or suggesting a balloon
a balloon sleeve
2
US : having or being a final installment that is much larger than preceding ones in a term or installment note
a balloon note
a balloon mortgage
Got a commercial mortgage coming due? If the loan requires a balloon payment (as many such mortgages do), you may have a hard time refinancing …INC

balloon

3 of 3

verb

ballooned; ballooning; balloons

intransitive verb

1
: to swell or puff out : expand
ballooned to 200 pounds
2
: to ascend or travel in or as if in a balloon
3
: to increase rapidly
ballooning prices
Phrases
go over like a lead balloon (US) or British go down like a lead balloon
informal
: to fail completely to impress or amuse other people
Not surprisingly, his overt religiosity has proved a mixed blessing. While probably a winner on the stump, it has gone over like a lead balloon with journalists, liberals, and even many Jewish organizations.Michelle Cottle
But the last time I saw it on stage, in Ned Sherrin's 1996 revival, the dialogue bored me rigid and the whole thing … went down like a lead balloon.David Nice

Examples of balloon in a Sentence

Noun I blew up a balloon but then it burst. brightly colored balloons and other party decorations Verb Their credit card debt ballooned to more than $5,000. the ballooning costs of education
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Smiling and laughing, the happy couple poses with both their kids before the video switches to Shai running around outside with blue balloons. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 The room was modestly decorated: purple and white balloons on the ground, gold confetti over fold-out tables covered in purple plastic tablecloths. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Instead of choosing the balloon task that ended up being the easier of the two, Pulver and Smith selected a task that tested them mentally. Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024 Arrange the balloons in a pattern and stick on a wall, fence, or door. Kit Selzer, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024 The ultimate objective being to offer an entirely new perspective of the balloon artists’ work. Lise Pedersen, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 Jackson was greeted at the theme park with cheers from Disney cast members and corporate executives alike, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, happy birthday signs, celebratory music, colorful balloons and, of course, a huge birthday cake. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 16 Mar. 2024 The company recently received the capsule for Spaceship Neptune, and will begin test flights with its space balloon in the next six weeks. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 Activities include a magic show, crafts, balloon art, face painting and photos with the Easter Bunny. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024
Adjective
President Joe Biden delivered remarks about the objects Thursday, downplaying the possibility that the non-balloon objects shot down might also be tied to surveillance efforts. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2023 Such releases have been banned in a handful of states and cities, according to the anti-balloon release organization called Balloons Blow. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Apr. 2022
Verb
Proponents say the change will safeguard city resources against a street drug culture that’s ballooned because of San Francisco’s lenient policies and generous benefits. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 High inflation has made materials and labor costs far pricier, and ballooning mortgage rates have pumped the brakes on an already-slow sector. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Under this simulation, cases would balloon, with the model bathing the counties in red measles dots. Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 The Celtics’ advantage had ballooned to 44 points by the end of the first half, Boston’s largest halftime lead in franchise history. Sam Joseph, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Initially budgeted at $165 million, sources say that figure has ballooned to something closer to $310 million. Samuel Braslow, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2024 Global supplies of the metal—which has become key to the energy transition due to its use in electrification and batteries—ballooned after Indonesia quickly ramped up production, causing benchmark prices to crater and the closure of at least six nickel projects in Australia in the past year. Paul-Alain Hunt, Fortune Asia, 20 Feb. 2024 But in recent years, as the country’s young population has ballooned to around half its electorate, there has been a growing frustration with that system, analysts say. Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 The number of people sheltering in Rafah, the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip, has ballooned from less than 300,000 to more than 1.4 million. Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French ballon large football, balloon, from Italian dialect ballone large football, augmentative of balla ball, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ball — more at ball

First Known Use

Noun

1783, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1784, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of balloon was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near balloon

Cite this Entry

“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balloon. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

balloon

1 of 2 noun
bal·​loon bə-ˈlün How to pronounce balloon (audio)
1
: a bag of tough light material filled with heated gas or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere and that usually carries a suspended load (as a gondola with passengers)
2
: a toy or decoration consisting of an inflatable bag (as of rubber)
3
: an outline containing words spoken or thought by a character (as in a cartoon)

balloon

2 of 2 verb
1
: to go up or travel in a balloon
2
: to swell or puff out
3
: to increase rapidly
ballooning prices

Medical Definition

balloon

1 of 2 noun
bal·​loon bə-ˈlün How to pronounce balloon (audio)
: a nonporous bag of tough light material that can be inflated (as in a bodily cavity) with air or gas
gastroesophageal tamponade by introduction of a balloon into the stomach

balloon

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to inflate or distend like a balloon

intransitive verb

: to swell or puff out

Legal Definition

balloon

adjective
bal·​loon
: being or having a final installment that is much larger than preceding ones in an installment or term loan
a balloon payment

Note: In contrast to an amortized loan, a balloon loan is generally repaid in periodic payments of interest and a large, lump sum payment of principal at the end of the term.

More from Merriam-Webster on balloon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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