on balance

Idioms  

1. Taking everything into consideration, as in On balance I think we've had a very good year. This expression, which in effect means “balancing all the factors involved,” was first recorded in 1719.

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Example Sentences

The good versions — the deeply custardy ones with crisp edges and pockets of surprise throughout — rely on balance, responsiveness and a little bit of nerve.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

That A.I. detection is finally catching up is, on balance, a Good Thing.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

According to the report, consumer spending increased slightly on balance across the country, led by high-income Americans.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

Futures markets indicate investors are betting, on balance, that the Fed will keep interest rates steady until a new chair takes over in May.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

To begin with, there are the demands on balance, coordination, and reflex.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand