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
The Max Road Fire in the Everglades has ballooned to over 11,000 acres burned in South Florida.
—
Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Roanoke, Virginia, is one of those rare mountain destinations that has everything—an airport, a buzzy arts and culture scene, new boutique hotels, and a pedestrian-friendly greenway, all paired with a real estate market that has yet to balloon as much as other Blue Ridge areas.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
The project’s vast ambitions have already accrued about five years of delay, and, all told, its price to taxpayers has ballooned to nearly $5 billion.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
Over the past decade, homelessness has skyrocketed by 40 percent, even as homelessness spending has ballooned.
—Christopher Calton, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Roanoke, Virginia, is one of those rare mountain destinations that has everything—an airport, a buzzy arts and culture scene, new boutique hotels, and a pedestrian-friendly greenway, all paired with a real estate market that has yet to balloon as much as other Blue Ridge areas.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
The project’s vast ambitions have already accrued about five years of delay, and, all told, its price to taxpayers has ballooned to nearly $5 billion.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 May 2026
Over the past decade, homelessness has skyrocketed by 40 percent, even as homelessness spending has ballooned.
—Christopher Calton, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for balloon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balloon
Verb
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But ultimately, Ayton needs to increase his scoring at the rim, Redick said.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
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His most fulfilling moment was when the fourth calf was born in the wild last year, an indication that the bongos are thriving in their native habitat and that their population will certainly increase.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
Verb
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Under the flaps of his jacket there was a small tear in his T-shirt, directly over his left nipple, which protruded like a knot of purple rope.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
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And in turn, the 867-foot monolith protruding from the surrounding Wyoming prairie like the stump of the world’s largest tree became a big draw for tourists.—
Marnie Hunter,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Verb
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As tensions rise between the United States and China over trade, technology, Taiwan and military influence, the relationship between the world’s two largest economies is increasingly shaping global politics and national security debates.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
15 May 2026
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The national debt has surpassed the GDP, Social Security and Medicare face looming financial crises, inflation is rising, families are struggling — and yet Congress does nothing.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Aggressive bears are known to stalk, claw and even bite tourists in Great Smoky National Park, but rangers say one recent encounter involved a bear poking a hiker with its big wet nose.—
Mark Price
May 12,
Charlotte Observer,
12 May 2026
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Many curious passersby poked their heads inside, wondering if the restaurant was serving food again.—
Iris Kwok
May 12,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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As the teen continued to deteriorate, his right arm began to swell two or three times more than his left, and his wound began leaking fluid.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
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During the expedition’s first ten days, the ship navigated a strong storm, with ocean swells reaching two to three metres.—
Akash Kapur,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Then with a little nudging, the clumsy newborn finds the udder bulging between the cow’s back legs and hungrily suckles colostrum so critical for its first feeding.—
Susan Koch,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
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Reiner sat mostly expressionless in the courtroom—his eyes wide open and bulging.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The analytics group says that most Middle East cargoes loaded before the war have now been discharged, meaning the inventory drawdown will accelerate and local refining will slow.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
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The figure has really accelerated since 2017, though, driven in a large part by cost—to live a better quality of life at a lower cost and to have access to affordable healthcare and housing in later years.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
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There are numerous suites in the mix that expand upon the space, and anyone booking an executive category room enjoys access to the 25th-floor club lounge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
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Together, the movements reflected an apparent effort to insulate some of Iran's remaining military and aviation assets from the expanding conflict, even as officials publicly served as brokers for de-escalation.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balloon. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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