in the balance

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.

At the break, the derby was in the balance at 1-1.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

"Narges Mohammadi's life hangs in the balance," her Paris-based husband Taghi Rahmani said in a statement.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

In a world where public trust in science already hangs in the balance, a system that is visibly strained and occasionally embarrassed gives bad-faith actors fresh ammunition.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

As the church prepares Sunday to celebrate Christ’s resurrection on Easter, its members call for renewal and liberation of their homeland as the fate of its governance hangs in the balance.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Lawrence feared that the failure at Y-12 would destroy the army’s confidence in the entire bomb project, with billions of dollars—indeed, the entire war effort—hanging in the balance.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik