# balance

/ˈbæɫəns/ (US) · /bˈæləns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/balance
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. physical stability

noun · CEFR B1

the ability to stay upright and steady without falling over.

For teachers: the state of physical equilibrium or the ability to maintain the body's centre of mass over its base of support.

- He lost his balance on the icy pavement and nearly fell.
- The gymnast demonstrated incredible balance as she performed a series of complex flips on the narrow wooden beam.

### 2. equal distribution

noun · CEFR B1

a situation where different things exist in equal or correct amounts.

For teachers: a state in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.

- It is important to have a healthy balance between work and your private life.
- The architect sought a perfect balance between modern glass surfaces and traditional stone masonry to ensure the building fit the historic district.

### 3. money in an account

noun · CEFR B1

the amount of money you have in your bank account at a specific time.

For teachers: the difference between the total debits and total credits in an account; the remaining amount of money.

- I need to check my bank balance before I buy these expensive shoes.
- After the final mortgage payment was processed, the remaining balance on the loan was officially zero.

### 4. weighing tool

noun · CEFR B2

an instrument used for weighing things, usually with two pans.

For teachers: a weighing device consisting of a horizontal beam with a support in the centre and pans at each end.

- The chemist used a precise balance to measure the powder for the experiment.
- In the laboratory, the analytical balance must be kept in a glass case to prevent air currents from affecting the measurement.

### 5. to stay steady

verb · CEFR B1

to keep yourself or an object in a steady position so it does not fall.

For teachers: to keep in a state of equilibrium; to support an object on a narrow base.

- She managed to balance the tray of drinks on one hand while opening the door.
- The performer balanced a spinning plate on the tip of a thin cane, much to the delight of the gathered crowd.

### 6. to give equal importance

verb · CEFR B2

to give the same amount of attention or importance to two different things.

For teachers: to offset or compare different influences or factors to reach a state of harmony or neutrality.

- The government is trying to balance the needs of the environment with the needs of the economy.
- The editor worked hard to balance the political viewpoints in the article to avoid accusations of bias from the readers.

## Examples

- I lost my balance and fell off the bicycle.
- The manager struggled to find the right balance between pushing her team to succeed and protecting them from burnout.
- Maintaining a delicate ecological balance requires conservationists to monitor predator populations just as closely as they track the endangered species those predators hunt.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.