: a chemical element of the noble gas group with atomic number 2 that is found especially in natural gases and used chiefly for inflating airships and balloons, as a coolant for superconductors, and as a component of inert atmospheres (as in welding)
—often used before another noun
helium balloons
helium gas
see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of helium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After many years of cost overruns and delays, Boeing’s Starliner took two astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time, although the capsule continues to be plagued by minor helium leaks.
—
science.org, 3 July 2024
Ground controllers discovered four more small helium leaks during Starliner's flight up to the station.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 28 June 2024
The return to Earth of Boeing's Starliner capsule is on indefinite hold pending results of new thruster tests and ongoing analysis of helium leaks that cropped up during the ship's rendezvous with the International Space Station, NASA announced Friday.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 28 June 2024
Officials have repeatedly indicated that the Starliner — which encountered issues with helium leaks and thruster outages en route to the International Space Station in early June — will be safe to bring astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore home.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for helium 
science.org, 3 July 2024
Ground controllers discovered four more small helium leaks during Starliner's flight up to the station.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 28 June 2024
The return to Earth of Boeing's Starliner capsule is on indefinite hold pending results of new thruster tests and ongoing analysis of helium leaks that cropped up during the ship's rendezvous with the International Space Station, NASA announced Friday.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 28 June 2024
Officials have repeatedly indicated that the Starliner — which encountered issues with helium leaks and thruster outages en route to the International Space Station in early June — will be safe to bring astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore home.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for helium
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'helium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Helium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helium. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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Medical Definition
helium
noun
he·li·um
ˈhē-lē-əm 
: a light colorless nonflammable gaseous element found especially in natural gases and used chiefly for inflating airships and balloons, for filling incandescent lamps, and for cryogenic research
—symbol He
see Chemical Elements Table
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