unbalance
/ˌʌnˈbæləns/ (bre, ipa) · [ənbˈæləns] /ˌʌnˈbæləns/ (ame, ipa) · [ənbˈæləns] /ˌən-ˈba-lən(t)s How to pronounce unbalance (audio)/ (ame, mw)
unbalance — verb
- unbalancepresent simple I / you / we / they
- unbalanceshe / she / it
- unbalancedpast simple
- unbalancing-ing form
1. to cause a person, object, or system to lose its stable position or become physi
to cause a person, object, or system to lose its stable position or become physically unsteady.
Lakan grabbed the railing when the sudden movement of the train unbalanced him.
unbalance + person (physical)
The extra weight on one side unbalanced the boat, and water began to pour in.
unbalance + object (vehicle)
A strong gust of wind unbalanced the old ladder, sending it crashing to the ground.
Yumi shifted her heavy backpack to her left shoulder, but it only unbalanced her further.
A knee injury to their best defender unbalanced the entire defensive formation in the second half.
- destabilize
more formal, often used for systems or structures rather than people
- upset
broader meaning; can refer to both physical and non-physical disturbance
- throw off balance
the more common everyday phrase for physical unsteadiness
- balance
the direct opposite action
文法句型
unbalance + object (person, object, or system)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice: 'She was unbalanced by the sudden jolt.' Can also extend metaphorically to describe a system or group losing its effective arrangement.
常見錯誤
2. to disturb someone's normal mental or emotional state so severely that they cann
to disturb someone's normal mental or emotional state so severely that they cannot think or behave as they usually do.
The death of her father unbalanced Ada, and she found it hard to focus on everyday tasks.
unbalanced by a traumatic event
Constant criticism from his manager unbalanced Esteban to the point where he doubted his own abilities.
Living alone in a foreign country without any close friends slowly unbalanced the young student.
The traumatic events of that year unbalanced Nala so badly that she needed professional help from a therapist.
The violent mugging unbalanced Marta so severely that she could not return to work for months.
- stabilize
restoring emotional or mental steadiness
文法句型
be unbalanced by something
something unbalances someone
用法筆記
Often occurs in the passive or adjectival form ('unbalanced'). Distinguish from sense 1 (physical stability); sense 2 describes lasting psychological disturbance, not temporary surprise or sadness.
常見錯誤
3. to cause a situation, system, or competition to become unfair by giving too much
to cause a situation, system, or competition to become unfair by giving too much advantage or importance to one side.
The new tax policy unbalanced the economy by favoring large corporations over smaller businesses.
unbalance + economy/system
Allowing only private schools to receive extra funding unbalanced the education system across the region.
When one candidate receives far more media coverage than the others, it unbalances the election process.
The referee's questionable calls unbalanced the match and frustrated players on both sides.
Adding this rule would unbalance the game by making it nearly impossible for defenders to stop goals.
- balance
restoring fairness or equal weight to both sides
文法句型
unbalance + system/economy/competition
用法筆記
Subject is almost always an abstract noun (policy, rule, funding, advantage) rather than a person. Typically used in formal or analytical writing about fairness.
unbalance — noun
1. a condition in which different parts of something are not equal, in the correct
a condition in which different parts of something are not equal, in the correct proportions, or physically stable.
The unbalance in the load caused the forklift to tip over during the delivery.
unbalance + in + load (physical)
A slight unbalance in the front wheel made the bicycle shake at higher speeds.
Doctors warned that an unbalance in brain chemicals could affect her mood and sleep patterns.
A slight unbalance in the rear wheel made Tomás's bicycle wobble when he turned a corner.
The unbalance in the washing machine drum caused a loud thumping noise during the spin cycle.
- imbalance
the more common synonym for most abstract and figurative uses
- disparity
suggests a noticeable difference, often in size or degree
- disequilibrium
formal and technical; used in economics and science
- balance
a state of equal weight or proportion
- equilibrium
formal term for a balanced state in science or economics
文法句型
an unbalance in something
unbalance of something
用法筆記
Less common than 'imbalance' in most contexts. 'Imbalance' is preferred for abstract or figurative meanings (economic imbalance, power imbalance), while 'unbalance' appears more often in mechanical or technical references.