ballooned 1 of 2

ballooned

2 of 2

verb

past tense of balloon

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ballooned
Verb
Over the summer, the waitlist for shelter ballooned to more than 200 families. — Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2026 The film eventually ballooned to six hours before Gibney began whittling it back. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Experts estimate its population has ballooned from less than 1 million in 2001 to 6 million today. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026 This post was originally published on October 3 Bitcoin has rocketed higher since its creation just over 15 years ago—largely due to a global financial crisis that has ballooned to a $365 trillion emergency. — Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Though the price has ballooned to $7 in the Senate since, McGuire’s still sells it for less than a quarter. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2026 Viard watched firsthand as fashion ballooned into a global industry, designers becoming celebrities unto themselves and budgets exploding. — Olivier Bouchara, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026 Remaining performance obligations ballooned to $638 billion by fiscal year-end compared to $138 billion last fiscal year. — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026 The company’s 150-person workforce has ballooned by 40 percent during that time. — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ballooned
Adjective
  • North Korean mines have occasionally been carried into South Korea by swollen rivers, killing or injuring civilians.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The woman, who sustained a swollen and bloody face, was subsequently released from custody, the BBC said.
    — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • When Arizona removed Medicaid patients' access to podiatrists, diabetic foot infection hospital admissions increased 38 percent, hospital stays grew 29 percent, and charges rose 45 percent.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Yet even as the flows of crude from the Middle East have increased, oil remains near $100 a barrel.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The stranger’s hollow cheeks, his dark eyes, whose lashes always appeared wet, the bony shoulders that protruded from the singlet Chee Meng had lent him—all of it frightened Shawn.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In several looks, the hips protruded impressively outward, but the silhouette appeared more subtle and somewhat suitable for everyday wear in the label’s delicate camisole tops.
    — Kelly Niesen, Glamour, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • Fiber slows gastric emptying, making the stomach more distended.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
  • The distended episodes were littered with what feels like filler, little of which offered much in the way of narrative value.
    — Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Further east, in the coastal province of Rayong abutting a major industrial belt, authorities ordered evacuations on Monday after flood waters swelled two reservoirs beyond their capacity.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In 2023, one of the wettest years in decades, the San Joaquin swelled to four miles wide at the site.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Bellingham poked in Gordon's cross midway through the first half.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • George Lombard singled in a run, Jazz Chisholm poked one through the right side, Trent Grisham got a bunt down for a hit, knocking Crochet out of the game without getting an out.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Bake pancake until puffed and brown around edges, 20–25 minutes.
    — Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Re-cover and let the dough rise again in a warm spot until puffed and some bubbles have formed, about 1 hour.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • When Arizona removed Medicaid patients' access to podiatrists, diabetic foot infection hospital admissions increased 38 percent, hospital stays grew 29 percent, and charges rose 45 percent.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Election runoff in Brazil Senator Flavio Bolsonaro rose to a surprise lead over leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, setting the nation up for a sharp shift to the right.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ballooned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ballooned. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster