balk C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes Also spelled baulked US /bɔk/ UK /bɔːk/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to hesitate or refuse to proceed; a hindrance or obstacle The horse balked at the high fence and threw its rider. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to hesitate or refuse to... hesitaterecoilrefusedemurflinchshy ↔ Opposites proceedcomplyaccept Word family Derived forms balky Related forms baulk Etymology AI details From Old English balca ('ridge, bank'); the verb sense developed from the idea of an unploughed ridge as an obstacle, hence to check or hesitate at a hindrance. balca Old English *balkô Proto-Germanic View etymology graph -> Topics Actions & Processes External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # balk **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /bɔk/ **IPA (UK):** /bɔːk/ ## Meanings 1. to hesitate or refuse to proceed; a hindrance or obstacle ## Examples - The horse balked at the high fence and threw its rider. ## Synonyms - hesitate - recoil - refuse - demur - flinch - shy ## Antonyms - proceed - comply - accept ## Derived Forms - balky ## Related Forms - baulk ## Roots and Affixes - Root: balca - Root: *balkô ## Etymology From Old English balca ('ridge, bank'); the verb sense developed from the idea of an unploughed ridge as an obstacle, hence to check or hesitate at a hindrance. ## AI Etymology Balk is from Old English balca ('ridge, bank'); the verb sense developed from the idea of an unploughed ridge as an obstacle, hence to check or hesitate at a hindrance. In present-day use, it means to hesitate or refuse to proceed; a hindrance or obstacle. Derived formations include balky. Related vocabulary includes baulk. ## Topics - Actions & Processes markdown