maintain equilibrium

USAGE SUMMARY

'maintain equilibrium' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a state of balance or stability between competing forces. For example: "The leader of the committee worked hard to maintain equilibrium between the different sides in the debate."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lana, already struggling to maintain equilibrium after a stint in a mental institution, disappears.

The New Yorker

Ballast is a heavy substance that can be moved around to help maintain equilibrium.

Harvard Business Review

The OEM must therefore maintain equilibrium and share this pursuit with the public.

Yale University

"I'm saying most people are able to maintain equilibrium pretty well after a traumatic event," he said.

The Washington Post

Mr. Lochbaum said that if the dry cask system were used to maintain equilibrium in the pool but the pool were kept full, the total risk would rise.

The New York Times

A study by the German consortium Gitec-Cobodes dethatined that Poopó received 161bn fewer litres of water in 2013 than required to maintain equilibrium.

The Guardian

In other words, the two frequencies cannot maintain equilibrium once they are equal to each other.

Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Its architecture makes people use their bodies in unexpected ways to maintain equilibrium, and that, she said, will stimulate their immune systems.

The New York Times

Statoliths, which are found in the squid's head and help it maintain equilibrium, grow through the buildup of calcium carbonate in discrete rings.

The New York Times - Science

Ear canals help the body maintain equilibrium and balance, and a smaller canal would be less sensitive to spins and gyrations.

The New York Times - Science

We consider "quasi-static" composition changes that maintain equilibrium between these phases.

Chemical Engineering Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "maintain equilibrium", ensure the context clearly defines what elements are being balanced. This provides clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "maintain equilibrium" when describing a completely static situation. Equilibrium often involves dynamic processes, not absolute stillness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "maintain equilibrium" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "maintain" is the verb and "equilibrium" is the noun serving as the direct object. As Ludwig examples show, it expresses the action of preserving a balanced state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

32%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "maintain equilibrium" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of preserving balance or stability. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is considered correct and usable in written English. Its usage spans various fields, including science, news, and academia, suggesting a broad applicability across different registers. The phrase implies an active effort to counteract forces that could disrupt a balanced state. For alternative expressions, consider "preserve balance" or "sustain stability", depending on the specific context. When using this phrase, clarity is key, ensuring the context defines what elements are being balanced for optimal impact. Overall, "maintain equilibrium" is a reliable and effective phrase for conveying the idea of preserving a state of balance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintain balance

A very similar phrase, focusing directly on the act of balancing.

preserve balance

Emphasizes preventing imbalance or deviation from a stable state.

preserve stability

Highlights actively preserving an existing condition of stability.

sustain stability

Focuses on the continuation of a stable condition over time.

retain stability

Highlights keeping an existing stable state.

uphold stability

Suggests active effort to ensure that something remains stable.

ensure balance

Focuses on making certain that a state of equilibrium is present.

secure equilibrium

Emphasizes the act of ensuring or guaranteeing a state of equilibrium.

keep steady

Implies preventing movement from a balanced position.

achieve equilibrium

This phrase denotes the action of reaching a balanced state, rather than maintaining one.

FAQs

How can I use "maintain equilibrium" in a sentence?

You can use "maintain equilibrium" to describe efforts to keep balance or stability, as in "The company needed to innovate to "maintain equilibrium" in the competitive market."

What is a good alternative to "maintain equilibrium"?

Depending on the specific context, alternatives to "maintain equilibrium" include "preserve balance", "sustain stability", or "retain stability".

Is it better to use "maintain equilibrium" or "achieve equilibrium"?

The best choice depends on the situation. "Maintain equilibrium" implies keeping an existing balance, while "achieve equilibrium" suggests reaching a balanced state for the first time.

What does it mean to "maintain equilibrium" in economics?

In economics, to "maintain equilibrium" often refers to efforts by governments or businesses to sustain a balance between supply and demand, or to prevent economic instability.