Definition

Noun 1. The act of making two or more things equal, stable, or in correct proportion. This involves adjusting elements so they are in a state of equilibrium or so that different accounts or statements match. Example: The balancing of the budget was the council's primary goal. 2. The act of offsetting one thing with another to achieve stability or fairness. This can refer to physical stability, competing demands, or contrasting elements. Example: Her successful balancing of a career and family life is admirable.

Usage Examples

• The balancing of the chemical equation is a fundamental step in solving the problem.
• Tightrope walking requires incredible skill in balancing.
• The balancing of workloads among team members improved overall productivity.
• The final stage of the accounting process is the balancing of the books.

Advanced Usage

• "Balancing act": A situation where someone must carefully manage several different activities, demands, or opposing factors at the same time.
• In mechanics and engineering, balancing refers to the process of distributing mass in a rotating system to prevent vibration.

Variants and Related Words

• Balance (verb/noun): The root word. As a verb, it means to keep or put something in a steady position. As a noun, it refers to a state of equilibrium.
• Counterbalancing (verb/noun): Using one weight or force to balance another.
• Rebalancing (noun): The act of balancing something again, often used in finance (e.g., rebalancing an investment portfolio).

Synonyms

• Equilibrating
• Stabilizing
• Harmonizing
• Offsetting
• Reconciling (specifically for accounts or statements)

Related Phrases

• Strike a balance: To find a good compromise between two or more things.
• Hang in the balance: To be in an uncertain state where the outcome is not yet decided.

Noun

1. getting two things to correspond
   • the reconciliation of his checkbook and the bank statement