Counterbalance Meaning

/ˌkaʊntəˈbæləns/
B2

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounA weight that is put in opposition to an equal weight so it keeps that in balance.

nounA force or influence that balances, checks or limits an opposite one.

I don't exercise enough to counterbalance the amount of calories I take in.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
A heavy weight was needed to ____ the lighter side of the scale.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I don't exercise enough to ____ the amount of calories I take in.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrāder. Old French contre- Anglo-Norman countre-bor. Middle English counter- English counter- Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Latin lanx Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance English counterbalance From counter- + balance.

"[…] the remaining Air was not able to counterballance the Mercurial Cylinder, […]" — 1659 December 30 (date written), Robert Boyle, “[Experiment 17]”, in New Experiments Physico-Mechanicall, Touching the Spring of the Air, and Its Effects […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] H[enry] Hall, printer to the University, for Tho[mas] Robinson, published 1660, →OCLC, page 118:
"Still, a strong reluctance to re-enter a service from which he had been dismissed with contempt, almost counterbalanced these considerations." — 1820, [Walter Scott], chapter XV, in The Abbot. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne & Co.] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and for Archibald Constable and Company, and John Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, pages 333–334:
"Perhaps her views of life were too morbid, but her companions had enough cheerfulness to counterbalance any undue tinge of sadness given by one who had obviously suffered much." — 1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter VII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 84:
"[…] the study of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the influence of the study of matter; […]" — a. 1857, William Hamilton, “Lecture II. Philosophy—Its Absolute Utility. (B) Objective.”, in H[enry] L[ongueville] Mansel and John Veitch, editors, Lectures on Metaphysics and Logic […], volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1859, →OCLC, page 35:
"A considerable effort has been made in these volumes to counterbalance this activity by introducing the student to the plants as living entities with a "life of their own," as Spruce put it." — 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page ix:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
A heavy weight was needed to ____ the lighter side of the scale.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I don't exercise enough to ____ the amount of calories I take in.

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