The actors were poised on the stage, ready for the curtain to come up.
She held the pencil poised over the paper.
The company is poised for success.
She seemed poised to take on the leadership of the country.
He is now poised to become the next big star in country music.
a city poised between the mountains and the sea
a group of people poised between hope and fear
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'poised.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1626
: not moving but ready to move
: ready or prepared for something
: in a state, place, or situation that is between two different or opposite things
Nglish: Translation of poised for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of poised for Arabic speakers
What made you want to look up poised? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Name More Food!
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test your knowledge of food vocabulary!
Take the quiz
Is that your picture under "Largest Vocabulary"?
Take the quiz
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
Take the quiz
Listen to the words and spell through all three levels.
Play the game
