plural balloons
1
: a nonporous bag of light material that can be inflated especially with air or gas: such as
a
: a bag that is filled with heated air or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere and that usually carries a suspended load (such as a gondola with passengers)
b
: an inflatable bag (as of rubber or plastic) usually used as a toy or for decoration
c
medical
: a small bag that can be inflated (as in a bodily cavity) with air or gas
More than 700,000 Americans undergo procedures in which clogged arteries are cleared out with a balloon and then propped open with a tiny metal scaffold called a stent.—
Ron Winslow
Ron Winslow2
: the outline enclosing words spoken or thought by a figure especially in a cartoon
1
: relating to, resembling, or suggesting a balloon
a balloon sleeve
2
US
: having or being a final installment that is much larger than preceding ones in a term or installment note
a balloon note
a balloon mortgage
Got a commercial mortgage coming due? If the loan requires a balloon payment (as many such mortgages do), you may have a hard time refinancing …—INC
INC
ballooned; ballooning; balloons
1
: to swell or puff out : expand
ballooned to 200 pounds
2
: to ascend or travel in or as if in a balloon
3
: to increase rapidly
ballooning prices
Phrases
go over like a lead balloon
(US) or British go down like a lead balloon
informal
: to fail completely to impress or amuse other people
Not surprisingly, his overt religiosity has proved a mixed blessing. While probably a winner on the stump, it has gone over like a lead balloon with journalists, liberals, and even many Jewish organizations.—Michelle Cottle
Michelle CottleBut the last time I saw it on stage, in Ned Sherrin's 1996 revival, the dialogue bored me rigid and the whole thing … went down like a lead balloon.—David Nice
David Nice
Synonyms
Examples of balloon in a Sentence
Noun
I blew up a balloon but then it burst.
brightly colored balloons and other party decorations
Verb
Their credit card debt ballooned to more than $5,000.
the ballooning costs of education
Recent Examples on the WebCarlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Over time this hospital would become Norton Children's Hospital, known today by its iconic hot air balloon logo.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
The hot air balloon, operated by Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides, took flight with 13 occupants.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
There are also balloons that mark the special occasion.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Impella devices have increasingly taken the place of intra-aortic balloon pumps, which were once used to pump blood through vessels of very sick patients and fell out of favor after a study in 2012 questioned their efficacy.
—Christina Jewett, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
The word surreal aptly describes the video, which stars a guy with a yellow balloon for a noggin.
—Sarah Whitmire, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Smiling and laughing, the happy couple poses with both their kids before the video switches to Shai running around outside with blue balloons.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
The room was modestly decorated: purple and white balloons on the ground, gold confetti over fold-out tables covered in purple plastic tablecloths.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Dennis Romero, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2023
Such releases have been banned in a handful of states and cities, according to the anti-balloon release organization called Balloons Blow.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Apr. 2022
Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
By Elizabeth Wolfe and Melissa Alonso | CNN The Powerball jackpot has ballooned to a tremendous $1.09 billion after yet another lottery drawing yielded no top winner Monday night.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Cortes was a revelation in 2021 and 2022, but became imprecise with his command last year and his ERA ballooned to 4.97 over 12 starts.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
While the statewide vacancy rate has consistently hovered above 10% for at least the last 20 years, vacancies in recent years have at times ballooned to more than 20%.
—Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 26 Mar. 2024
As Michigan's state parks and forests have ballooned in popularity in recent years, reserving a campsite can be a tough ticket.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2024
That amount ballooned to $464 million with prejudgment interest.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
While their original vision was to invite 50 guests and spend just £15,000 (about $19,000), their invite list quickly grew to 120 people and their budget ballooned to £40,000 (about $50,000).
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024
Her original budget of $50,000 ballooned by $20,000.
—Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
As a result, the balloon’s launch site will be chosen by predictive modeling, based on wind speed and direction.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Over time this hospital would become Norton Children's Hospital, known today by its iconic hot air balloon logo.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
The hot air balloon, operated by Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides, took flight with 13 occupants.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
There are also balloons that mark the special occasion.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Impella devices have increasingly taken the place of intra-aortic balloon pumps, which were once used to pump blood through vessels of very sick patients and fell out of favor after a study in 2012 questioned their efficacy.
—Christina Jewett, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
The word surreal aptly describes the video, which stars a guy with a yellow balloon for a noggin.
—Sarah Whitmire, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Smiling and laughing, the happy couple poses with both their kids before the video switches to Shai running around outside with blue balloons.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
The room was modestly decorated: purple and white balloons on the ground, gold confetti over fold-out tables covered in purple plastic tablecloths.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Adjective
President Joe Biden delivered remarks about the objects Thursday, downplaying the possibility that the non-balloon objects shot down might also be tied to surveillance efforts.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2023
Such releases have been banned in a handful of states and cities, according to the anti-balloon release organization called Balloons Blow.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Apr. 2022
Verb
No ticket matched Wednesday night's winning Powerball numbers, and the prize has now ballooned to $1.23 billion for the next drawing.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024
By Elizabeth Wolfe and Melissa Alonso | CNN The Powerball jackpot has ballooned to a tremendous $1.09 billion after yet another lottery drawing yielded no top winner Monday night.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Cortes was a revelation in 2021 and 2022, but became imprecise with his command last year and his ERA ballooned to 4.97 over 12 starts.
—Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
While the statewide vacancy rate has consistently hovered above 10% for at least the last 20 years, vacancies in recent years have at times ballooned to more than 20%.
—Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 26 Mar. 2024
As Michigan's state parks and forests have ballooned in popularity in recent years, reserving a campsite can be a tough ticket.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2024
That amount ballooned to $464 million with prejudgment interest.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2024
While their original vision was to invite 50 guests and spend just £15,000 (about $19,000), their invite list quickly grew to 120 people and their budget ballooned to £40,000 (about $50,000).
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024
Her original budget of $50,000 ballooned by $20,000.
—Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'balloon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
French ballon large football, balloon, from Italian dialect ballone large football, augmentative of balla ball, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German balla ball — more at ball
First Known Use
Noun
1783, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1784, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1784, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing balloon
Dictionary Entries Near balloon
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balloon. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
balloon
1 of 2 noun
bal·loon
bə-ˈlün 
1
: a bag of tough light material filled with heated gas or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere and that usually carries a suspended load (as a gondola with passengers)
2
: a toy or decoration consisting of an inflatable bag (as of rubber)
3
: an outline containing words spoken or thought by a character (as in a cartoon)
balloon
2 of 2 verb1
: to go up or travel in a balloon
2
: to swell or puff out
3
: to increase rapidly
ballooning prices
Medical Definition
balloon
1 of 2 noun
bal·loon
bə-ˈlün
: a nonporous bag of tough light material that can be inflated (as in a bodily cavity) with air or gas
gastroesophageal tamponade by introduction of a balloon into the stomach
balloon
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to inflate or distend like a balloon
: to swell or puff out
Legal Definition
balloon
adjective
bal·loon
: being or having a final installment that is much larger than preceding ones in an installment or term loan
a balloon payment
Note: In contrast to an amortized loan, a balloon loan is generally repaid in periodic payments of interest and a large, lump sum payment of principal at the end of the term.
More from Merriam-Webster on balloon
Nglish: Translation of balloon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of balloon for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about balloon
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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