balancing
balancing — noun
1. the ability to stay steady and not fall, or the act of keeping yourself or an ob
the ability to stay steady and not fall, or the act of keeping yourself or an object in a stable position, especially when this is difficult
Chidi lost his balance and fell off the bicycle when the front wheel hit a stone.
collocation: lose one's balance
Rohan practices balancing on one foot every morning to strengthen his leg muscles.
gerund: practice + balancing
Practicing balancing exercises can help older adults avoid serious falls and injuries.
gerund: practicing + balancing + noun
The Watanabe children practiced balancing on a fallen log in the park after school.
gerund: practice + balancing + on [surface]
In beginner yoga classes, mastering balancing in tree pose takes weeks of practice.
gerund: mastering + balancing + in [pose/position]
- lose your balance
- keep your balance
- maintain your balance
- balancing act
- balancing exercise
- a good sense of balance
- equilibrium
more formal and scientific; describes a state rather than an active skill
- stability
focuses on the result of not moving or falling, not the action itself
- instability
the state of being likely to fall or move uncontrollably
Grammar Patterns
balancing + noun (as modifier)
Usage Note
Frequently used with verbs like 'lose', 'keep', 'maintain', and 'practice'. The gerund 'balancing' is used for the activity or skill (practicing balancing), while the noun 'balance' is used for the state or quality (good balance, lost his balance). Can act as a modifier before nouns (balancing act, balancing exercise).
2. the process of adjusting the relative volume of different sounds, instruments, o
the process of adjusting the relative volume of different sounds, instruments, or audio channels in a sound system or recording
Nora adjusted the balance on the car stereo so the bass was not too loud.
collocation: adjust the balance
The sound engineer spent an hour on the balancing between the lead singer's microphone and the band's instruments.
gerund: balancing between [X] and [Y]
This music app has a simple balancing feature that lets you control the left and right speakers separately.
collocation: balancing feature
Hana thought the balance was wrong because the violins were much quieter than the cellos.
collocation: the balance was wrong
- audio balancing
- adjust the balancing
- balancing feature
- balancing control
- sound mixing
a broader term that includes adjusting other audio properties besides volume
Grammar Patterns
the balancing of [sounds/channels]
audio balancing
Usage Note
Often used in the context of audio equipment, recording studios, and music production. The noun 'balance' refers to the state or setting of relative volume levels, while the gerund 'balancing' describes the activity of adjusting them.
3. the act of carefully comparing different facts, opinions, or possibilities befor
the act of carefully comparing different facts, opinions, or possibilities before deciding what to do
After a careful balancing of all the arguments, the committee voted to approve the new policy.
collocation: careful balancing of
The judge called the ruling a difficult balancing of public rights and personal privacy.
pattern: balancing of [X] and [Y]
Choosing a university requires a balancing of factors such as cost, location, and course quality.
The doctor did a careful balancing of the risks and benefits before recommending the surgery.
collocation: balancing of risks and benefits
- careful balancing
- delicate balancing
- balancing of interests
- a balancing act
- weighing up
more informal; common in British English
- consideration
focuses on the thinking step, not the comparison between options
Grammar Patterns
the balancing of [considerations/factors]
a balancing of [X] and [Y]
Usage Note
Commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts such as law, business, medicine, and policy. The phrase 'a balancing act' describes a situation where you must manage competing priorities.
Common Mistakes
4. a device with two flat dishes hanging from a horizontal bar, used to measure wei
a device with two flat dishes hanging from a horizontal bar, used to measure weight by placing an object in one dish and known weights in the other
The chemistry teacher used an old brass balance to show how different metals compare in weight.
collocation: balance (weighing device)
Before digital scales became popular, shopkeepers used a balancing scale with metal weights to measure flour and sugar.
pattern: balancing scale with [object]
The museum displays a wooden balance from the 1800s that traders used to weigh spices at the market.
An old balancing scale sat in the corner of the pharmacy, ready for measuring dried herbs.
collocation: balancing scale
- a balancing scale
- a balance with two pans
- laboratory balance
- an old balance
- scale
the modern, more common term for any weighing device
- weighing scale
clearer and more commonly used in everyday English
Grammar Patterns
a balancing + noun
Usage Note
This sense is historical or technical. In everyday modern English, 'scale' or 'weighing scale' is far more common. The device itself is called a 'balance' (not 'balancing'), though 'balancing scale' is also used. Learners may encounter this sense in science textbooks or historical descriptions.
5. the process of managing money so that the amount you spend does not go beyond th
the process of managing money so that the amount you spend does not go beyond the amount you have or receive
The monthly balancing of the household budget helps the Watanabe family save for their summer trip.
collocation: balancing of the [budget/accounts]
Roya's weekly balancing of her accounts helps her catch any mistakes before they add up.
gerund: weekly balancing of [accounts]
The government's annual balancing of spending and tax income is a complex task involving many departments.
pattern: balancing of [X] and [Y]
Proper balancing of a small business's cash flow can mean the difference between survival and bankruptcy.
- budget balancing
- financial balancing
- weekly balancing
- balancing of accounts
- budgeting
more general; focuses on planning how to spend money, not just matching income to expenses
- reconciliation
a technical accounting term for matching two sets of records
Grammar Patterns
the balancing of [budget/accounts]
financial balancing
Usage Note
Often used with possessive nouns or 'of' structures (the balancing of the company's accounts). For personal contexts, the verb form 'balance' (e.g., 'she balances her budget every week') is more idiomatic than using the gerund noun.
balancing — verb
- balancingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- balancings3rd person singular
- balancinging-ing form
- balancingedpast simple
1. to keep yourself or something in a steady position so that it does not fall, or
to keep yourself or something in a steady position so that it does not fall, or to be in such a position
The food delivery driver was balancing a tall stack of pizza boxes on one hand while ringing the doorbell.
transitive: balancing [object] on [body part]
Shirin carefully balanced the book on her head while walking across the room during drama rehearsal.
The waiter balanced three plates of pasta along his arm as he moved between the crowded tables.
Little Theo balanced on the curb with both arms out, pretending the street was a river full of crocodiles.
intransitive: balance on [surface]
The dancer balanced on one toe for several seconds while the audience watched in silence.
- balance on one foot
- balance something on your head
- balance carefully
Grammar Patterns
balance + object
balance + on/preposition
be balancing + noun
Usage Note
When used transitively, the object is the thing kept steady. When used intransitively, the subject is the person or thing maintaining its own stability. Often followed by 'on' to specify the surface.
Common Mistakes
2. to give equal or appropriate attention, time, or importance to several different
to give equal or appropriate attention, time, or importance to several different activities or aspects of life at the same time
As a single parent, Caleb has to balance a full-time job with looking after two young children.
pattern: balance [X] with [Y]
Adina finds it hard to balance her schoolwork, her part-time job at the cafe, and time with friends.
pattern: balance [X], [Y], and [Z]
The project manager must balance the clients' demands with the limited resources available to her team.
Many working parents struggle to balance their career goals and their children's after-school activities.
collocation: balance career and family
A healthy diet balances proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables to give you all the nutrients you need.
- balance work and life
- balance competing demands
- balance priorities
- balance career and family
Grammar Patterns
balance + noun + and/with + noun
balance + between + noun + and + noun
Usage Note
This sense is the most common figurative use of 'balance.' The object is typically a list of two or more competing items connected by 'and' or 'with.' 'Between' is also used: 'balance between work and play.'
Common Mistakes
3. to organize the financial records of a company, organization, or government so t
to organize the financial records of a company, organization, or government so that the total amount spent does not exceed the total amount received
The finance officer balanced the company accounts at the end of every month before submitting the report.
collocation: balance the [accounts/books]
If the city council cannot balance its budget next year, it will have to cut library services.
collocation: balance a budget
The accountant spent a whole week balancing the company books after the busy holiday shopping season.
The new finance director promised to balance the school district's budget within eighteen months.
- balance the budget
- balance the accounts
- balance the books
- balance income and expenditure
- overspend
to spend more than the budget allows
Grammar Patterns
balance + a/the budget
balance + accounts/books
Usage Note
Common object nouns are 'budget,' 'accounts,' and 'books.' This sense is used primarily in formal or business contexts. For personal finance, sense 4 (making ends meet) is more appropriate.
4. to manage your personal or household finances so that the money you have is enou
to manage your personal or household finances so that the money you have is enough to pay for the things you need
After losing her job, Sari struggled to balance her rent and grocery bills with the little savings she had left.
pattern: balance [expenses] with [income]
Many families in this neighborhood find it hard to balance their monthly expenses against their salaries.
Ife balanced her part-time earnings carefully to cover her tuition fees and still keep enough money for food.
With rising electricity costs, the Okafor family is finding it harder each month to balance their home budget.
collocation: balance a [home/household] budget
- balance the household budget
- balance expenses against income
- struggle to balance one's finances
- make ends meet
an idiomatic phrase meaning to have just enough money to live on
- get by
informal; means to manage with what you have, not specifically about balancing
Grammar Patterns
balance + [expenses/costs] + with/and + [income/salary]
Usage Note
This sense focuses on personal or household finance rather than formal accounting. It often appears with 'struggle to,' 'hard to,' or 'difficult to' because it describes a challenging situation. Unlike sense 3, this does not involve formal accounts or professional bookkeeping.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/2
All four words describe handling multiple demands, but they differ in tone and scope. 'Balance' (verb/2) suggests giving appropriate weight to each item so none is neglected — it implies harmony. 'Juggle' is more informal and emphasises the difficulty or frantic effort of keeping everything going at once; you juggle tasks, but you balance priorities. 'Manage' is broader and more neutral — you can manage a single task or many, and it doesn't carry the idea of equal attention. 'Prioritize' means ranking items by importance and handling the most urgent first, which is different from giving them equal weight. 'Multitask' focuses on doing several things at the same moment (e.g., answering emails while on a phone call), whereas balancing is about allocating time and energy across activities over a period. For example: 'I balance my career and family by leaving the office at five o'clock' (harmonious allocation). 'I juggle three part-time jobs and still find time to study' (struggle). 'I need to prioritise my assignments before the exam' (ranking).
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'balancing' comes from 'balance,' which entered English through Old French from Latin 'bilanx' — meaning 'having two scales.' 'Bi-' means 'two,' and 'lanx' means 'plate' or 'dish,' referring to the two pans of a weighing scale. Over time, the idea of physical weighing expanded to include mental comparison (weighing options) and financial management (balancing a budget). The -ing ending turns the action into a noun or ongoing activity.
First known use
13th century
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6 Verb