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 NiceSynonyms
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 WebDavid Oliver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
By midday Sunday, a makeshift memorial across the street from the mall had grown to a pile of about 100 bouquets of flowers, wreaths and a balloon, and residents walking their dogs or with their morning coffees stood nearby talking about their disbelief at what had happened.
—Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
The balloons carry batteries and electronics that reach the stratosphere and then burst from the pressure before falling back to earth or into the ocean, where the equipment sinks with little chance of being recovered.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
The balloon traveled 552 miles (888 kilometers) before landing in Green Hills Preserve in North Conway, New Hampshire, according to Goldstein.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Vanadis’s eyes look like two giant, shiny red balloons that have been strapped to a thin worm’s body.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Jessica Simpson Poses in Cute Ruffled Playsuit During Mexico Vacation
Last month, Simpson celebrated her youngest daughter Birdie’s 5th birthday with a pink Paw Patrol birthday cake adorned with cutouts of the show's characters and colorful balloons.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Burgundy Glass/Pinot Noir Glass The most striking feature of this type of glass is its balloon shape.
—Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 8 Apr. 2024
The iPhone 15, of course, will not ascend in either of the two high-altitude balloons that Pearson and the students will let fly Monday.
—The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 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
Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2024
The total amount of outstanding student loans for higher education has ballooned over the last two decades to almost $1.8 trillion today, up from about $300 billion in 2000.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The five lobbyists registered for Bayer in Iowa and three in Idaho is largely consistent with recent years, but the number working in Missouri this year ballooned from four to nine.
—Hannah Fingerhut and David A. Lieb, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
The Los Angeles Times reports Simpson, who spent nine years in prison for a 2007 armed robbery, has paid about $100,000 of that judgment, which has now ballooned to more than $100 million with interest.
—USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Construction halts on 53-story hotel and condominium project In September 2006, the city of Sacramento had approved an $11 million subsidy for the hotel portion after Saca complained that the $500 million in initial costs had ballooned by $100 million.
—Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Monday’s solar eclipse drew huge crowds to the path of totality, temporarily ballooning the populations of small towns and rural areas across the country.
—Charlie Smart, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
As the company has grown from a business in his parents’ garage to a $1.5 billion business, his own personal wealth has ballooned with it.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
Since then, the sizes of cargo ships have ballooned.
—Caitlin Thompson, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
There was live music, a table arched by a spread, gold balloons and a champagne toast.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
By midday Sunday, a makeshift memorial across the street from the mall had grown to a pile of about 100 bouquets of flowers, wreaths and a balloon, and residents walking their dogs or with their morning coffees stood nearby talking about their disbelief at what had happened.
—Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
The balloons carry batteries and electronics that reach the stratosphere and then burst from the pressure before falling back to earth or into the ocean, where the equipment sinks with little chance of being recovered.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
The balloon traveled 552 miles (888 kilometers) before landing in Green Hills Preserve in North Conway, New Hampshire, according to Goldstein.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
Vanadis’s eyes look like two giant, shiny red balloons that have been strapped to a thin worm’s body.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Jessica Simpson Poses in Cute Ruffled Playsuit During Mexico Vacation
Last month, Simpson celebrated her youngest daughter Birdie’s 5th birthday with a pink Paw Patrol birthday cake adorned with cutouts of the show's characters and colorful balloons.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
Burgundy Glass/Pinot Noir Glass The most striking feature of this type of glass is its balloon shape.
—Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 8 Apr. 2024
The iPhone 15, of course, will not ascend in either of the two high-altitude balloons that Pearson and the students will let fly Monday.
—The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 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
Saginaw’s population has ballooned by more than a quarter since 2010, growing by around 2% annually.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2024
The total amount of outstanding student loans for higher education has ballooned over the last two decades to almost $1.8 trillion today, up from about $300 billion in 2000.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The five lobbyists registered for Bayer in Iowa and three in Idaho is largely consistent with recent years, but the number working in Missouri this year ballooned from four to nine.
—Hannah Fingerhut and David A. Lieb, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
The Los Angeles Times reports Simpson, who spent nine years in prison for a 2007 armed robbery, has paid about $100,000 of that judgment, which has now ballooned to more than $100 million with interest.
—USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Construction halts on 53-story hotel and condominium project In September 2006, the city of Sacramento had approved an $11 million subsidy for the hotel portion after Saca complained that the $500 million in initial costs had ballooned by $100 million.
—Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
Monday’s solar eclipse drew huge crowds to the path of totality, temporarily ballooning the populations of small towns and rural areas across the country.
—Charlie Smart, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
As the company has grown from a business in his parents’ garage to a $1.5 billion business, his own personal wealth has ballooned with it.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
Since then, the sizes of cargo ships have ballooned.
—Caitlin Thompson, NPR, 4 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near balloon
Cite this Entry
“Balloon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/balloon. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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