balance beam

American  

noun

balance beams plural

1. 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.

2. a competitive gymnastic event for women in which such an apparatus is used.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• balance beams
  plural

Etymology

Origin of balance beam

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

balance beam

After sustaining a foot injury on her balance beam routine during a quad meet on Feb. 27 against Maryland, Ohio State and Iowa, Katelyn Rosen was sidelined for the rest of the competition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2026

On the balance beam, Katelyn Rosen started with a 9.750 and Barros posted a 9.850.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 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

I ended up taking first on vault and balance beam in my junior session, and third all-around, with a final score of 53.650.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles