overbalance

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

Also spelled overballance

US /ˌoʊvɚˈbæləns/ UK /ˌəʊvəˈbæləns/ See IPA manual

verb noun

Meanings

1

verb
to lose balance and topple, or to outweigh in importance

He leaned too far and overbalanced off the ladder.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to lose balance and topple,... outweigh topple capsize preponderate overturn outbalance

Opposites

balance steady stabilize

Word family

Related forms balance counterbalance

Etymology

From over- ('beyond, in excess') plus balance, from Latin bilanx ('having two scale-pans'). Means to outweigh or to lose equilibrium and topple.

bilanx Latin lanx Latin

View etymology graph ->

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Abstract Ideas

# overbalance

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** ˌoʊvɚˈbæləns
**IPA (UK):** ˌəʊvəˈbæləns

## Meanings
1. to lose balance and topple, or to outweigh in importance

## Examples
- He leaned too far and overbalanced off the ladder.

## Synonyms
- outweigh
- topple
- capsize
- preponderate
- overturn
- outbalance

## Antonyms
- balance
- steady
- stabilize

## Related Forms
- balance
- counterbalance

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

## Etymology
From over- ('beyond, in excess') plus balance, from Latin bilanx ('having two scale-pans'). Means to outweigh or to lose equilibrium and topple.

## AI Etymology
Overbalance comes from over- ('beyond, in excess') plus balance, from Latin bilanx ('having two scale-pans'). Means to outweigh or to lose equilibrium and topple. The etymological trail includes Latin bilanx and Latin lanx. As a verb, overbalance means to lose balance and topple, or to outweigh in importance. The same family is visible in related forms such as balance and counterbalance.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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overbalance

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