balance beam
Americannoun
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a narrow wooden rail about 16 feet (5 meters) long and 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide, set horizontally on upright posts about 4 feet (1.2 meters) from the floor, used for performing feats of balancing and demonstrating gymnastic ability.
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a competitive gymnastic event for women in which such an apparatus is used.
Etymology
Origin of balance beam
First recorded in 1945–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sullivan competed in all events for the first time this season and scored a 9.775 on the balance beam.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026
During the third rotation, the Bruins moved to the balance beam, an event they struggled with during their third place finish in Utah last week.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026
Closing the national championship on balance beam, seniors Emily Lee and Emma Malabuyo book-ended the Bruins final rotation with a 9.9250 and a 9.9375, respectively.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2025
Malabuyo represented the Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics and is ranked third in the nation on balance beam with a 9.925 average score across the first four meets.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2025
He dribbled too high and moved slowly—like he was on a balance beam.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
