Balance: Standing Steady, and Making Numbers Agree
Balance is the state in which opposing forces or amounts are even. It covers standing upright, weighing two sides of an argument, and the money left in an account.
Balance describes a settled state between two sides. A gymnast keeps balance on a beam, an editor balances two accounts of an event, and a bank statement shows the balance left over. One picture unites them: a pair of scales that neither tips.
- Steadiness of the body. *She lost her balance on the ice.*
- An even distribution. *A good balance between work and rest.*
- Money remaining in an account. *Check your balance before paying.*
- To keep or make steady (verb). *He balanced the tray on one hand.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | balance | A sense of balance. |
| Verb | balance | Balance the books. |
| Adjective | balanced | A balanced diet. |
| Opposite | imbalance | A trade imbalance. |
| Adjective | unbalanced | An unbalanced argument. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The bill was paid and the balance refunded.Balance as what remains after a sum is taken.
- On balance, the plan is worth trying.A set phrase meaning after weighing everything.
- The whole project hung in the balance.Undecided, and could still go either way.
Phrases built on the scales
- On balance — taking everything into account
- In the balance — uncertain, still undecided
- Strike a balance — find a workable middle point
- Tip the balance — be the deciding factor
- Balance of power — the distribution of strength between rivals
From Latin *bilanx*, having two pans, made of *bi* (two) and *lanx* (a dish or plate). The word is a description of the instrument itself, and every modern sense still assumes those two pans.
Balance sheet or balance statement?
Balance sheet. It is the accounting document that lists assets against liabilities so both sides match.
Is balanced always positive?
Usually. A balanced report, meal or view is a compliment. Only in mechanics is it purely neutral.