Meaning & use
poised
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Meanings
adjectiveafter a verb
Ready and about to do something, waiting for the right moment.
Grammar: Followed by to plus a verb or for: poised to win.
Patterns
- poised to do something
- poised for something
The team is poised to win the title.
The cat sat poised to pounce.
The economy is poised for growth.
adjectivecomparableapproving
Calm and confident in manner, especially under pressure.
Grammar: Describes a person's manner: a poised speaker.
She stayed poised during the tough interview.
He was a poised young athlete.
adjectiveafter a verb
Held balanced in one position, as if about to move.
Grammar: Often with over or above.
Patterns
- poised over something
His hand was poised over the keyboard.
The dancer stood poised on one toe.
Word forms
| comparative | more poised |
|---|---|
| superlative | most poised |
Common combinations
- poised to
- The firm is poised to expand.
- poised for
- She is poised for success.
- remain poised
- He remained poised under pressure.
- poised and confident
- A poised and confident speaker.
Synonyms and how they differ
- composed
- Only calm, with no sense of being ready to act.
- ready
- Plain word, without the tension of waiting.
- set
- Informal, as in set to start.
- self-assured
- Confident, about character.
Opposites
Word family
- poise noun
- calm, graceful self-control
Commonly confused: poised or poisoned?
poised vs poisoned
Poisoned means harmed by poison; poised means ready or calm.
Practice
The sprinters were ___ at the starting line, waiting for the gun.
Choose one answer.
Poised means ready to act. Posed would mean arranged for a photograph.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “poised”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.