1 C1 neutral
To add heavy material to a vessel or vehicle so that it sits lower in the water or moves more stably.
"Before setting sail, the crew ballasted up the ship to handle the rough seas ahead."
separable
ballast up
C1 neutral separable transitive
To add ballast (heavy material) to a ship, aircraft, or vehicle to improve its stability or balance.
In plain English
To put heavy material into a ship or vehicle so it doesn't tip over.
What does "ballast up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fill up with ballast — transparent in meaning.
Actually means
To put heavy material into a ship or vehicle so it doesn't tip over.
Usage tip
Technical term used primarily in nautical, aviation, and engineering contexts. Ballast can be water, sand, or any heavy material added for balance. Rarely used outside specialist fields.
Words that pair with "ballast up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
ship vessel tank hull aircraft submarine
How to conjugate "ballast up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
ballast up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ballasts up
he/she/it
Past simple
ballasted up
yesterday
Past participle
ballasted up
have + pp
-ing form
ballasting up
continuous
Hear "ballast up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "ballast up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "ballast up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
balance load stabilise steady trim weight
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