balance

The ability or state of staying steady without falling or tipping over.

• I lost my balance.
• Her balance improved with practice.
• The heavy bag upset the boat’s balance.

Similar words: stability, equilibrium

Opposites: imbalance

Common phrases: lose balance, keep your balance, sense of balance

The amount of money in an account after payments in and out are counted.

• My balance is fifty pounds.
• She checked her bank balance online.
• The statement showed a negative balance.

Common phrases: bank balance, account balance, check your balance

The relative strength of different groups, forces, or opinions that affects the final result.

• One vote tipped the balance.
• The balance of opinion favored reform.
• New weapons shifted the balance of power.

How to use it: balance of something (The election changed the balance of power.)

Common phrases: balance of power, balance of opinion, tip the balance

The part or amount that remains after some has been used, removed, or paid.

• Please pay the balance tomorrow.
• We ate some rice and stored the balance.
• The balance of the agreement still applies.

How to use it: balance of something (The balance of the order will arrive tomorrow.)

Similar words: remainder, rest

Common phrases: pay the balance, remaining balance, balance of something

An instrument with two sides that compares weights to measure how heavy something is.

• Put the powder on the balance.
• The balance has two metal pans.
• We used a balance to weigh the sample.

Similar words: scales

Common phrases: beam balance, laboratory balance, use a balance

To keep yourself or something steady by spreading weight evenly.

• Can you balance on one foot?
• She balanced herself before lifting the box.
• We balanced the load on both sides.

How to use it: balance on something (The bird balanced on a thin branch.)

Similar words: steady, stabilize

Opposites: unbalance

Common phrases: balance on something, balance yourself, balance the weight

To hold or place something on a narrow support so that it does not fall.

• He balanced a cup on his knee.
• She balanced three plates on one hand.
• Can you balance this coin on its edge?

How to use it: balance something on something (She balanced a book on her head.)

Similar words: poise

Common phrases: balance something on, balance a tray

To move along a narrow support while keeping yourself steady.

• She balanced along the wall.
• He balanced across the rope above the river.
• The acrobat balanced along a high wire.

How to use it: balance along/across something (He balanced across the narrow beam.)

Similar words: equilibrate, equilibrate

Common phrases: balance along something, balance across something