poise

CEFRC1

/pɔɪz/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Calm confidence and controlled behavior.

  2. 02

    verb

    To hold or balance something ready for action.

Examples

  • Jamin's slender figure exudes grace and poise, enhancing her overall beauty.

  • He has a lot of poise.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Composure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation.

  2. Mien; bearing or deportment of the head or body.

  3. A state of balance, equilibrium or stability.

More examples

In context

  • Tom has a lot of poise.

  • I poised the crowbar in my hand, and waited.

  • 1699, John Dryden, Epistle to John Dryden to poise with solid sense a sprightly wit

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Despite the chaos and loud shouting around her, she maintained her graceful blank.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English poys, poyse, from Anglo-Norman pois, Middle French pois (“weight”) and Anglo-Norman poise, Middle French poise (“measure of weight”), from Latin pendere (“to weigh, ponder, think”). Doublet of peise.