counterbalance

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

Also spelled counter-balance

US /ˈkaʊntɚˌbæləns/ UK /ˈkaʊntəbæləns/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to offset by an opposing weight or force

Tax cuts were meant to counterbalance rising prices.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to offset by an opposing... offsetcounterpoisecounterweight compensate equalize neutralize

Opposites

unbalanceupsetdestabilize

Word family

Forms counterpoise

Related forms counter balance counterweightcounterpoise

Etymology

From 'counter-' ('against, opposite') plus 'balance'. 'Balance' is from Latin 'bilanx' ('having two scale-pans'), from 'bi-' ('two') plus 'lanx' ('scale, dish').

contra Latin bilanx Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# counterbalance

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈkaʊntɚˌbæləns/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkaʊntəbæləns/

## Meanings
1. to offset by an opposing weight or force

## Examples
- Tax cuts were meant to counterbalance rising prices.

## Synonyms
- offset
- counterpoise
- counterweight
- compensate
- equalize
- neutralize

## Antonyms
- unbalance
- upset
- destabilize

## Related Forms
- counter
- balance
- counterweight
- counterpoise

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: contra
- Root: bilanx

## Etymology
From 'counter-' ('against, opposite') plus 'balance'. 'Balance' is from Latin 'bilanx' ('having two scale-pans'), from 'bi-' ('two') plus 'lanx' ('scale, dish').

## AI Etymology
Counterbalance is from 'counter-' ('against, opposite') plus 'balance'. 'Balance' is from Latin 'bilanx' ('having two scale-pans'), from 'bi-' ('two') plus 'lanx' ('scale, dish'). Important recorded forms include contra (Latin) and bilanx (Latin). The current sense covers to offset by an opposing weight or force. The wider family includes related words such as counter, balance, counterweight, and counterpoise.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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