Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural counterweights, present participle counterweighting, past tense, past participle counterweighted
1. countable noun [oft NOUN noun]
A counterweight is an action or proposal that is intended to balance or counter other actions or proposals.
His no-inflation bill serves as a useful counterweight to proposals less acceptableto the Committee. [+ to]
2. verb
If one action or proposal is intended to counterweight another, it is intended to balance or counter the other action or proposal.
This will be used to counterweight the capital gains argument. [VERB noun]
counterweight in British English
(ˈkaʊntəˌweɪt)
noun
a counterbalancing weight, influence, or force
Derived forms
counterweighted (ˈcounterˌweighted)
adjective
counterweight in American English
(ˈkaʊntərˌweɪt)
noun
a weight equal to another; counterbalance
Examples of 'counterweight' in a sentence
counterweight
Now Charles, all the doors on all the houses in State open an "close an' lock an' unlock on like a kind of lever an' counterweight thing.
Smith, Mitchell STONE CITY (2002)
Its counterweight pulled Corwin up, just in time for his ankles to escape the snapping jaws of the sea serpent.