Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [in stressed th ee bal-uh n-sey]
- /ɪn stressed ði ˌbæl ənˈseɪ/
- /ɪn ðə ˈbæləns/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [in stressed th ee bal-uh n-sey]
- /ɪn stressed ði ˌbæl ənˈseɪ/
Definitions of in the balance words
- noun in the balance a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc. 1
- noun in the balance something used to produce equilibrium; counterpoise. 1
- noun in the balance mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc. 1
- noun in the balance a state of bodily equilibrium: He lost his balance and fell down the stairs. 1
- noun in the balance an instrument for determining weight, typically by the equilibrium of a bar with a fulcrum at the center, from each end of which is suspended a scale or pan, one holding an object of known weight, and the other holding the object to be weighed. 1
- noun in the balance the remainder or rest: He carried what he could and left the balance for his brother to bring. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of in the balance
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English balaunce < Anglo-French; Old French balance < Vulgar Latin *balancia, variant of *bilancia, equivalent to Late Latin bilanc- (stem of bilanx with double scales; Latin bi- bi-1 + lanx metal dish, pan of a pair of scales) + -ia -ia
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for In the balance
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
in the balance popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
in the balance usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for in the balance
adj in the balance
- imminent — likely to occur at any moment; impending: Her death is imminent.
- undecided — not decided or determined.
- impending — about to happen; imminent: their impending marriage.
- awaiting — waiting
- continuing — not ended; ongoing
Antonyms for in the balance
adj in the balance
- later — occurring, coming, or being after the usual or proper time: late frosts; a late spring.
- improbable — not probable; unlikely to be true or to happen: Rain is improbable tonight.
- unlikely — not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt.
- distant — far off or apart in space; not near at hand; remote or removed (often followed by from): a distant place; a town three miles distant from here.
See also
Matching words
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