1
as in to increase
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the number of students who stay home sick balloons every winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the paper bag ballooned and blew away as the wind lifted it skyward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of balloon
Crawley claims Augment’s assets—almost entirely pre-IPO shares in private tech companies—have ballooned from under $200 million to more than $1 billion over the last 12 months, driven largely by Anthropic’s skyrocketing value.
—
Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The result is a costly snowball effect that can cause the total fuel requirement to balloon to absurd proportions.
—Kai James, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
That number could balloon as Runway 4/22 stays offline into Saturday.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
But as the ratification fight dragged on, the series ballooned.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
The result is a costly snowball effect that can cause the total fuel requirement to balloon to absurd proportions.
—Kai James, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
That number could balloon as Runway 4/22 stays offline into Saturday.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
But as the ratification fight dragged on, the series ballooned.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
Verb
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Becerra’s support increased by 9 percentage points in a little more than two weeks when compared with the May 9-10 Emerson results.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
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But even on a per-square-foot basis, the price has increased 33%.—
Allison Schrager,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Once again, the rest of the silhouette is printed in black, as the brand marks are either inset or protruding from the pattern.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
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The hilt of a sword protruded from his back, snug beside a pack as tight as an angry fist.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Previously, the show has been hosted by former Love Island contestant Maura Higgins, who rose to fame as a finalist in the fifth series of the ITV2 reality series in 2019.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
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The death toll from the explosion of a chemical tank in Washington state has risen to eight, officials said on May 28.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch Johnny Carson poke fun at everyone, identify and support up-and-coming comics, entertain with clever and timeless skits, bring on musical guests and tell jokes.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
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Even Parsons himself poked fun at such notions.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Behind the glass sat a sea-foam green Hermes 3000, a pre-1966 model, instantly recognizable by its bulbous body and soft, swelling curves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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Lucas Mukasa / Anadolu via Getty Images Angry protests swelled Monday, including in the central town of Nanyuki, which is set to host the quarantine center.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Next to her is a bulging Balenciaga mini bag, and a pair of oversized sunglasses on her head are perched atop a mop of jet black curls.—
Rachel Brodsky,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
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That expansion can lead to bulging eyes, double vision and related challenges.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
27 May 2026
Verb
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That’s another bill that doesn’t include her name because a Senate version of the legislation, which was designed to accelerate biomedical research, is what eventually passed, Owens said.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
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The consumer demand, in both African domestic markets and globally, is documented and accelerating.—
Lisa Curtis,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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The deal with Curry, who is a household name in China, is expected to further boost Li-Ning’s popularity in the country and help expand the brand’s market share in the US.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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