balance
gb/bˈæləns/ us/bˈæləns/
A2
English
~ 1200
egyensúly, egyensúlyérzék, összhang, egyenleg, fennálló tartozás, számlaegyenleg, egyensúlyoz, egyensúlyban tart, nekitámaszt, egyensúlyt teremt, összeegyeztet
NOUN
A2
1
egyensúly
B1
Usage pattern:
to keep/lose/regain [one's] balance
She lost her balance and fell off the step.
Elvesztette az egyensúlyát, és leesett a lépcsőfokról.
Gymnasts need excellent balance to perform on the beam.
A tornászoknak kiváló egyensúlyérzékre van szükségük, hogy gyakorlatokat tudjanak végezni a gerendán.
I put my arms out to keep my balance on the ice.
He stumbled but quickly regained his balance.
The child stood on one foot to test his balance.
Learner examples
I lost my balance and fell.
Elvesztettem az egyensúlyomat, és elestem.
He has good balance when he rides a bike.
Jó az egyensúlyérzéke, amikor biciklizik.
Hold my hand to keep your balance.
The cat has great balance on the wall.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'balance' (the ability to stay steady) with 'equilibrium' in scientific contexts, which is less common in daily speech.
Meaning
Ability to stay upright
Collocations
keep balance
|lose balance
|regain balance
|maintain balance
|good balance
Synonyms
stability (Refers broadly to firmness and steadiness, not only physical balance.)
Antonyms
instability (Describes a lack of steadiness or tendency to fall.)
Themes
daily life
|sports
|health
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When you can stand or move without falling.
The state of having your weight spread evenly so that you do not fall.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
a balance between [thing] and [thing]
It's important to keep a healthy work-life balance.
Fontos fenntartani az egészséges egyensúlyt a munka és a magánélet között.
The new law seeks a balance between freedom and security.
Az új törvény egyensúlyt kíván teremteni a szabadság és a biztonság között.
We must strike a balance between cost and quality.
Nature maintains a delicate balance between species.
Her life lacked balance after she started working long hours.
Learner examples
I need a better balance between work and rest.
Jobb egyensúlyra van szükségem a munka és a pihenés között.
We try to keep a balance in our diet.
Igyekszünk egyensúlyt tartani az étrendünkben.
He found a good balance between study and play.
The teacher wants a balance of speaking and listening in class.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'balance' here with 'compromise', which involves giving up something, while 'balance' means equal importance or proportion.
Meaning
State of equality between things
Collocations
work-life balance
|strike a balance
|delicate balance
|maintain balance
|find a balance
Synonyms
equilibrium (More formal or scientific term for a stable state of equality.)
Antonyms
imbalance (A lack of equality or proportion between elements.)
Themes
daily life
|philosophy
|work
|core_vocabulary
|science
Definition
When different things have the same importance, amount, or strength.
A condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.
NOUN
A2
3
Usage pattern:
the balance of [account/payment]
You should check your account balance regularly.
Rendszeresen ellenőrizned kell a számlád egyenlegét.
The outstanding balance must be paid by the end of the month.
A fennálló tartozást a hónap végéig ki kell fizetni.
After paying the bill, she had a small balance left in her account.
Your current balance is $245.50.
He transferred the remaining balance to his savings account.
Learner examples
I checked my bank balance today.
Ma megnéztem a bankszámlám egyenlegét.
My account balance is low.
Alacsony a számlaegyenlegem.
Please pay the full balance by Monday.
She has a big balance on her credit card.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'balance' with 'budget'; 'balance' is the amount currently available or owed, while 'budget' is a spending plan.
Meaning
Money remaining in account
Collocations
account balance
|outstanding balance
|check balance
|pay off balance
Synonyms
remainder (General term for what is left, not specific to money.)
Antonyms
debt (An amount of money owed, often when the account is negative.)
Themes
business
|finance
|daily life
|daily_life
Definition
The money left in your bank account, or the amount you still need to pay.
The amount of money that remains in an account or that is still owed after payments have been made.
VERB
A2
4
Usage pattern:
to balance [something] on [something]
She balanced the tray on one hand.
Az egyik kezén egyensúlyozta a tálcát.
He balanced the ladder against the wall.
Nekitámasztotta a létrát a falnak.
The acrobat balanced on the tightrope with ease.
Can you balance this book on your head?
He balanced his bike while waiting at the traffic light.
Learner examples
I can balance a ball on my finger.
Tudok egy labdát egyensúlyozni az ujjamon.
He balanced the cup on the table edge.
A csészét az asztal szélén tartotta egyensúlyban.
She balanced on one leg for ten seconds.
They balanced the box on a chair.
Meaning
Keep something steady and upright
Collocations
balance carefully
|balance on one foot
|balance a tray
Synonyms
steady (Means to make or keep steady, but not necessarily about preventing falling.)
Antonyms
tip over (To fall or cause to fall from an upright position.)
Themes
daily life
|sports
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hold or place something so it does not fall.
To keep something in a position so that it stays steady and does not fall over.
VERB
B1
5
Usage pattern:
to balance [thing] with [thing]
She tries to balance her career with raising children.
Igyekszik összeegyeztetni a karrierjét a gyerekneveléssel.
We must balance economic growth with environmental protection.
Egyensúlyt kell teremtenünk a gazdasági növekedés és a környezetvédelem között.
The manager balanced the budget by cutting costs.
He balanced his time between work and hobbies.
They are balancing tradition with modern needs.
Learner examples
I want to balance work and play.
Szeretnék egyensúlyt teremteni a munka és a szórakozás között.
She balances school with sports.
Összeegyezteti az iskolát a sporttal.
We need to balance cost and quality.
He balances study with rest.
Meaning
Make things equal or fair
Collocations
balance work and family
|balance needs and resources
Synonyms
reconcile (More formal; often used for making different ideas or accounts agree.)
Antonyms
favor (To give more importance to one side than another.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make two or more things have the same importance or amount.
To arrange or adjust different elements so that they are equal or fair in amount, importance, or effect.
Grammar
Dictionary form
balance
IPA
GB/bˈæləns/
US/bˈæləns/
Syllables & stress
bal - ance (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (bal)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: balance
- Plural: balance, balances
Verb
- Base: balance
- 3rd Person Singular: balances
- Present Participle: balancing
- Past: balanced
Word family
Expressions
hang in the balance
1/hˈæŋ ˈɪn ðə bˈæləns/
idiom
Be at serious risk until decided
To be in danger of failing until something is decided.
Examples
- The team's hopes hang in the balance before the final match.
- Peace talks hang in the balance after recent violence.
in the balance
1/ˈɪn ðə bˈæləns/
idiom
Uncertain and at risk until decided
Not yet decided and could end well or badly.
Examples
- His future with the company hangs in the balance.
- The game was in the balance until the last minute.
keep your balance
1/kˈip jˈʊɹ bˈæləns/
fixed phrase
Stay steady without falling over
To stay standing without falling down.
Examples
- It's hard to keep your balance on ice skates.
- He kept his balance despite the strong wind.
strike a balance
1/stɹˈaɪk ə bˈæləns/
idiom
Find middle point between extremes
To find a way to have two different things in equal amounts or importance.
Examples
- Parents must strike a balance between discipline and freedom.
- We need to strike a balance between spending and saving.
throw someone off balance
1/θɹˈoʊ sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɔf bˈæləns/
idiom
Cause loss of steadiness suddenly
To make someone lose their physical stability or feel surprised and confused.
Examples
- The sudden question threw her off balance.
- The push threw him off balance and he fell.