Poised
/pɔɪzd/
adjectiveverbB2past tense, past participle
Definition
Poised describes a state of being ready to do something, often with calmness and confidence. It can also mean balanced physically or emotionally, showing control and grace. As a verb (past tense), it means to hold or prepare oneself carefully for action.
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See It in Action
Ready and calm, prepared to act
- •She was poised to answer the question confidently.
- •The athlete stood poised at the starting line.
- •He remained poised despite the pressure.
Balanced and graceful in physical or emotional state
- •The model walked with a poised and elegant posture.
- •She kept a poised expression during the interview.
(Verb, past tense) To hold or prepare oneself carefully
- •The archer poised his bow before releasing the arrow.
- •He poised the camera carefully to take the perfect shot.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "poised" like "ready," but with calm and confidence, not just waiting
- ✓Picture a dancer standing still with perfect balance before starting to move
- ✓It's the feeling when you are calm before giving a speech, not nervous but steady
- ✓Sounds like "poise" → imagine a tall, calm person holding a perfect balance on a tightrope
- ✓Think of a cat ready to jump, calm and balanced, not hurried or shaky
- ✓NOT like "nervous" (uneasy and shaky); "poised" is calm and steady
- ✓NOT like "rushed" (fast and careless); "poised" is controlled and careful
- ✓NOT like "unprepared" (not ready); "poised" means fully ready and focused
Try Other Words
- •Balanced: physically steady or emotionally calm (Use when focusing on physical or emotional stability)
- •Prepared: ready to do something (Use when emphasizing being ready, less about calmness)
- •Steady: firm and not shaking (Use when emphasizing control and calmness)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: base "poise" + "-ed" (past tense or adjective form)
- •Etymology: From Old French "pois" meaning weight or balance, from Latin "pensum" meaning something weighed
- •Historical development: Originally about physical balance, later extended to mental or emotional balance and readiness
- •Modern usage: Used to describe calm, confident readiness or physical balance, often in formal or serious contexts
Reflect & Connect
•When have you felt poised in a difficult situation? What helped you stay calm and ready?
•How does being poised affect how others see you in important moments?
Fill in the blanks
1.She was poised ___ the moment to speak, showing no sign of nervousness.
2.Being poised means you stay calm and ___ even when things are difficult.
3.Unlike being nervous, when you are poised, your body is ___ and balanced.
4.The cat poised ___ to jump quietly onto the table.
5.He remained poised ___ the pressure of the exam and finished on time.
6.Poised often goes ___ with confidence and control.
7.When the speaker was poised, the audience felt ___ and interested.