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to balance

to balance

285 2.0
To keep something steady so it does not fall
  • verb
  • /ˈbæl.əns/
translation icon : equilibrar
  • During yoga, it's important to balance your body in each pose to maintain stability.
  • try to balance
  • struggle to balance
  • balance the needs

So you have to balance those two objectives.

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Examples

  • It's been difficult for me to balance work, family and self-care.

  • The challenge remains for each engineer to balance the P.E. and PMP responsibilities.

    Academic text (2011)
  • How does our senior leadership balance that and keep the quality?

  • And I think it's it's hard to balance having a family with that.

  • You know, how do you balance being a father and being this?

  • How do you balance these sort of things?

  • I think we have to balance that all out.

  • So you have to balance those two objectives.

  • Well, last question, how do you balance love and ambition?

  • Schools should focus on a more balanced approach that includes all the elements of CCSS.

    Academic text (2013)

Synonyms

to hold
vsto balance
840 1.4

To remain true or valid in a situation

emphasizes remaining steady physically rather than general maintenance
to support
vsto balance
240 1.0

Hold up something so it does not fall

is about staying steady through even position rather than only weight bearing
to stabilize
vsto balance
  • US
197 3.7

To make something steady so it stops moving or falling

is about staying steady rather than actively preventing changes
to steady
vsto balance
41 3.4

To make yourself or something stop moving

focuses on remaining upright rather than actively creating stability
to sustain
vsto balance
41 4.1

To hold up something heavy so it does not fall

focuses on staying steady by position rather than just holding weight
to hold steady
vsto balance
17 2.9

Keep something or someone in place and still

means staying steady broadly rather than just holding still
to poise
vsto balance
8 4.8

To hold something in a steady, balanced position

is about staying steady without implying elegance or grace
to equilibrate
vsto balance
1 8.6

To become or make something balanced

is about staying steady rather than causing an even state
to equilibrize
vsto balance
9.9

To make something balanced, for example temperature or teams

is about staying steady rather than actively creating even state

Antonyms

2 4.8

To make something unstable or uneven

Idioms

To be in a situation where the result is not decided, for example a job or game

34 4.0

Feeling unsteady in body or mind after something sudden

Phrasal Verbs

Make things equal and make up for a lack so nothing is too much or too little

To make someone feel confused or unsure after a sudden change

To check and correct a business's money records so they show the right amounts

Compounds

balance sheet
  • Specialized
44 3.7

A document that shows what a company owns, what it owes, and its value on a date

A situation where groups or countries share power so no one becomes too strong

A system that stops one person or group having too much power by sharing control

4 4.4

A narrow raised bar used in gymnastics for walking and acrobatic moves

The ability to keep your body steady so you do not fall

trade balance
  • Specialized
4 3.9

The difference in value between a country's exports and imports of goods

balance of payments
  • Specialized
2 4.6

A record of a country's money that comes in and goes out with other countries over a year

balance of trade
  • Specialized
2 4.4

The difference in value of goods a country sells and buys from other countries over time

balance wheel
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A small wheel in a watch or clock that swings against a thin spring to keep accurate time

An account amount below zero when you owe money to the bank

An account that has more money in it than you have taken out

chemical balance
  • Specialized
1 6.1

An exact scale in a lab for measuring very small amounts of chemicals

Money that a bank or company owes you in your account

electrolyte balance
  • Specialized
1 3.3

A healthy level of salts like sodium and potassium in the body

Ability to keep your body steady while moving and to bend easily

A calm mind that keeps emotions steady and shows good judgment

beam balance
  • Specialized
5.3

A tool with a horizontal beam and two pans that compares weights

compensating balance
  • Specialized
8.0

Money that a borrower must keep in a bank account when getting a loan

debit balance
  • Specialized
4.4

An amount that shows an account owes money because more money was taken out than put in

7.4

A way to reduce an asset's value by a fixed percent each year, with larger reductions at first

A way to reduce an asset's remaining value by a fixed percentage each year

dynamic balance
  • Specialized
6.7

A state in which a turning part like a propeller does not cause shaking

electronic balance
  • Specialized
4.1

A machine that measures small weights and shows the number on a digital screen

acid-base balance
  • Specialized
4.2

The amount of acids and bases in the body that keeps fluids at the right pH

analytical balance
  • Specialized
6.7

A very accurate scale used in labs to weigh tiny amounts

4.9

Looking at a company's money, debts, and owners' share to judge its financial health

7.7

When a country buys more from other countries than it sells to them, it has money problems

A record of all money and goods a country sends to and receives from other countries in a year

The seventh zodiac sign shown as scales that has the sun in it from late September to late October

invisible balance
  • Specialized
7.8

The difference between money a country earns and pays for services and income from abroad

nitrogen balance
  • Specialized
6.3

The difference between nitrogen a body or soil takes in and loses

offsetting balance
  • Specialized
7.9

A minimum amount of money a bank asks you to keep in an account while you have a loan

torsion balance
  • Specialized
8.3

An instrument that measures very small forces by seeing how much a thin wire twists

trial balance
  • Specialized
5.5

A list of account totals that shows whether debit and credit amounts match

spring balance
  • Specialized
6.0

A tool that measures weight using a metal spring and shows it on a scale

visible balance
  • Specialized
7.1

The difference in value between a country's exports and imports of goods over time

How Steady

to stabilize
  • US
197 3.7
to secure
347 3.3
to steady
41 3.4
to balance
285 2.0
to wobble
40 3.8
to teeter
32 5.7

Surface Forms

balance infinitive
balanced past
balanced past participle
balancing present participle
balances third person singular

Etymology

The verb balance comes from the same idea of a two-pan scale (bi- 'two' + lanx 'pan') and means to keep something steady, as if making the two sides even so it does not fall.