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

See Examples For:

on balance

Officials noted that, on balance, the reconstruction is reducing student capacity at these schools, which also allows for more open space and recreation areas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

All the evidence I can find suggests that EVs are reducing China’s emissions, on balance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

But false positives were common, and whether getting a full-body scan stands to, on balance, increase your lifespan is unknown.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

The Renault was not as fast as Raikkonen's McLaren on balance, but it was certainly more reliable.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

Harry didn’t want to miss the fun, but Uncle Vernon’s second ornament narrowly missed his left ear, and on balance he thought it best to leave the situation to Mr. Weasley.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling