Search results
1. : to compensate for. 2. archaic : equal, match. 3. : to exert force against : counteract. intransitive verb. : to exert force against an opposing and often bad or harmful force or influence. Examples of countervail in a Sentence.
To countervail is to counteract, counterbalance, or neutralize. This verb is best known to us in the form of its participle countervailing, which gets far more time in the limelight as an adjective than countervail gets as a verb.
Countervail definition: to act or avail against with equal power, force, or effect; counteract.. See examples of COUNTERVAIL used in a sentence.
countervail in British English. (ˌkaʊntəˈveɪl , ˈkaʊntəˌveɪl ) verb. 1. (when intr, usually foll by against) to act or act against with equal power or force. 2. (transitive) to make up for; compensate; offset. Collins English Dictionary.
having equal force but an opposite effect: countervailing force There was nobody strong enough to lead an effective countervailing force against the dictator. a countervailing argument. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Opposing & against. active resistance. ad hominem. adversarial. against someone's beliefs. alienated. converse.
v.t. 1. to act against with equal power or effect; counteract. 2. to furnish an equivalent of or a compensation for; offset. 3. Archaic. to equal. v.i. 4. to be of equal force in opposition; avail.
Definition of 'countervail' Word Frequency. countervail in American English. (ˌkaʊntərˈveɪl ; ˈkaʊntərˌveɪl ) verb transitive. 1. to make up for; compensate. 2. to counteract; be successful, useful, etc. against; avail against. 3. Archaic. to match or equal. verb intransitive. 4. to avail ( against )
