balançar

Senses

1. 1.

   to swing, to sway

   to move back and forth or side to side rhythmically

2. 2.

   to shake, to wobble

   to move unsteadily or cause to tremble

3. 3.

   to waver, to falter

   to become uncertain or unsteady (figurative)

Examples

• "As crianças adoram balançar no parquinho."

  The children love to swing at the playground.

• "O vento forte balançou as árvores a noite toda."

  The strong wind swayed the trees all night long.

• "Ele balançou a cabeça em sinal de negação."

  He shook his head as a sign of refusal.

Usage

Common verb in both literal and figurative contexts. Often used with body parts (balançar a cabeça, balançar os braços) or objects. Can be intransitive (the boat is swaying = o barco está balançando) or transitive (he's swaying the hammock = ele está balançando a rede).