What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ballooned
Example
The company's expenses ballooned after they opened several new branches. [ballooned: past tense]
Example
The city's population ballooned after the construction of a new housing development. [ballooned: verb]
inflate
Example
He used a pump to inflate the beach ball. [inflate: verb]
Example
The government inflated the prices of essential goods during the crisis. [inflated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Inflate is more commonly used than ballooned in everyday language. Inflate is versatile and can be applied to various situations, while ballooned is less common and typically used in specific contexts related to growth or expansion.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ballooned and inflate?
Both ballooned and inflate are relatively formal words, suitable for use in professional or academic settings. However, inflate is more commonly used in everyday conversations and writing, making it slightly more informal compared to ballooned.
