poise

1 of 3

verb

poised; poising

transitive verb

1
a
: balance
especially : to hold or carry in equilibrium
carried a water jar poised on her head
b
: to hold supported or suspended without motion in a steady position
poised her fork and gave her guest a knowing lookLouis Bromfield
2
: to hold or carry (the head) in a particular way
3
: to put into readiness : brace

intransitive verb

1
: to become drawn up into readiness
2
: hover

poise

2 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a stably balanced state : equilibrium
a poise between widely divergent impulsesF. R. Leavis
2
a
: easy self-possessed assurance of manner : gracious tact in coping or handling
also : the pleasantly tranquil interaction between persons of poise
no angry outbursts marred the poise of the meeting
b
: a particular way of carrying oneself : bearing, carriage

poise

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one-square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter
Choose the Right Synonym for poise

tact, address, poise, savoir faire mean skill and grace in dealing with others.

tact implies delicate and considerate perception of what is appropriate.

questions showing a lack of tact

address stresses dexterity and grace in dealing with new and trying situations and may imply success in attaining one's ends.

brought it off with remarkable address

poise may imply both tact and address but stresses self-possession and ease in meeting difficult situations.

answered the accusations with unruffled poise

savoir faire is likely to stress worldly experience and a sure awareness of what is proper or expedient.

the savoir faire of a seasoned traveler

Examples of poise in a Sentence

Verb She poised her pencil above the paper and waited for the signal to begin writing. the disgraced business executive poised herself for the difficult press conference
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Celebrating its third anniversary, the Virginia 420 Festival is poised to revolutionize the festival landscape with its first-ever dual-location event, placing Virginia on center stage of international cannabis news. Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024 For the opposition, the National Action Party (PAN) is poised to select veteran Tijuana journalist Maricarmen Flores as its nominee. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 By the end of January they were poised to penetrate the residential areas. Oleksandr Chubko Lynsey Addario, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Emily MacDonald, a board trustee for the Woodland Joint Unified High School District, is poised to be recalled in her first term as board trustee. Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 The state is poised to expand school choice — unless the faulty arguments and transparent agenda of the union carry the day. Andrew Fowler, National Review, 5 Mar. 2024 The Supreme Court is also poised to hear arguments in April in a case challenging the reach of a federal obstruction law that has been used to prosecute scores of defendants in connection to the Capitol attack, and which Trump is accused by the special counsel of violating. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024 The Telegraph reported that White went to Princess Kate’s inaugural Shaping Us National Symposium in London in November and was poised to fill a vacancy open for over a year. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Notably, both Grayson and Rubio are poised to move forward to the November election as the only two candidates vying for the seat. Katie Lauer, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
The actor John Maria Gutierrez, even when disguised as a white businessman in a full-face mask, turns precipitate falls into rolls and handstands; the elegant Marcus McGregor, who danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Feld Ballet, demonstrates the cautious poise of a fawn. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024 Returning to this record then, with its new polish and poise, is a kind of homecoming celebration. Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2024 His poise and maturity were evident to those at the game. Craig Meyer, Detroit Free Press, 8 Jan. 2024 His partner Lucy, played with professional poise by Rosie Hallett, is high-stress in a different way, a busy eye surgeon with a sense of holding the world together through sheer force of will. Sam Hurwitt, The Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2024 The pageant is judged based on a personal interview, poise, personality, stage presence and a question on stage. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 The 28-year-old showed a lot of poise and technical skills in this matchup. Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 There are smaller British menswear brands that project a similar poise, such as Thom Sweeney, but nothing on the scale that Dunhill can propose. Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, there were multiple examples of grace under pressure as these young athletes glided through the water with poise and determination, supported by coaches and staff who played a pivotal role in encouraging their teams and ensuring fair play. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'poise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to weigh, ponder, from Anglo-French peiser, poiser, from Latin pensare — more at pensive

Noun (1)

Middle English poyse weight, heaviness, from Anglo-French peis, pois, from Latin pensum, from neuter of pensus, past participle of pendere to weigh — more at pendant

Noun (2)

French, from Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille †1869 French physician and anatomist

First Known Use

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poise was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near poise

Cite this Entry

“Poise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poise. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

poise

1 of 2 verb
poised; poising
1
a
: balance entry 2 sense 5
especially : to hold or make firm or steady by balancing
b
: to hold without motion in a steady position : hover
a bird poised in the air
2
: to put into readiness : brace
poised for action

poise

2 of 2 noun
1
2
a
: a dignified self-confident manner
a speaker of great poise
b
: a way of carrying oneself : bearing

Medical Definition

poise

noun
: a cgs unit of viscosity equal to the viscosity of a fluid that would require a shearing force of one dyne to impart to a one square-centimeter area of an arbitrary layer of the fluid a velocity of one centimeter per second relative to another layer separated from the first by a distance of one centimeter

More from Merriam-Webster on poise

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