Meaning & use
equilibrium
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Meanings
noununcountabletechnicalphysics
A steady condition in which opposing forces or influences cancel out so nothing changes.
Grammar: Often used with in or reach: the system is in equilibrium.
Patterns
- be in equilibrium
- reach equilibrium
- restore equilibrium
The two weights hang in equilibrium on the balance.
The reaction reaches equilibrium after a few minutes.
Supply and demand tend toward equilibrium.
noununcountablefigurative
A calm state of mind or feelings in which nothing seems to disturb you.
Grammar: Figurative; often mental equilibrium or emotional equilibrium.
Patterns
- lose your equilibrium
- regain your equilibrium
It took her a moment to regain her equilibrium after the bad news.
Meditation helps him keep his emotional equilibrium.
The bumpy flight shook her equilibrium.
noununcountablemedical
The ability of the body to stay balanced and upright.
Grammar: Used in medicine and everyday talk: lose your equilibrium.
Patterns
- lose your equilibrium
The icy step made him lose his equilibrium.
Inner-ear problems can affect equilibrium.
The skater never lost her equilibrium.
Word forms
| plural | equilibria |
|---|
Common combinations
- in equilibrium
- The ecosystem is in equilibrium.
- reach equilibrium
- The temperature will reach equilibrium.
- restore equilibrium
- Rain restored equilibrium to the lake.
- chemical equilibrium
- Chemical equilibrium is a key idea in class.
- lose your equilibrium
- He lost his equilibrium on the ice.
Synonyms and how they differ
- balance
- Balance is the everyday word, while equilibrium is more technical and formal.
- stability
- Stability stresses resistance to change, whereas equilibrium stresses forces canceling out.
- composure
- Composure refers only to a calm mind, not to physical or chemical states.
- poise
- Poise suggests graceful, confident balance in manner.
Opposites
Word family
- equilibrate verb
- to bring into balance
- equilibrist noun
- a tightrope walker or balance expert
- disequilibrium noun
- loss of balance
- equilibria noun
- the plural form
Commonly confused: equilibrium or equality?
equilibrium vs equality
Equality means being equal in rights or amount, while equilibrium is a balance between forces.
Practice
In a chemistry experiment, the forward and backward reactions occur at the same rate, so the system is in ____.
Choose one answer.
Equilibrium is the state where opposing processes balance. The other nouns describe growth, disappearance or appearance, which do not apply.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “equilibrium”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.