pose

1 of 3

verb (1)

posed; posing

transitive verb

1
a
: to set forth or offer for attention or consideration
let me pose a question
b
: to come to attention as : present
smoking poses a health risk
2
a
: to put or set in place
b
: to place (someone, such as a model) in a studied attitude

intransitive verb

1
: to assume a posture or attitude usually for artistic purposes
2
: to affect an attitude or character usually to deceive or impress
posed as a doctor to gain access to the ward

pose

2 of 3

noun

1
: a sustained posture
especially : one assumed for artistic effect
2
: an attitude, role, or characteristic assumed for effect

pose

3 of 3

verb (2)

posed; posing
Choose the Right Synonym for pose

pose, air, airs, affectation, mannerism mean an adopted way of speaking or behaving.

pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.

her shyness was just a pose

air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

Examples of pose in a Sentence

Verb (1) posed an interesting question for the visiting astronomer Noun The photographs show the models in both clothed and nude poses. Hold that pose. It will make a great photograph. His disapproval of the war looks good to voters, but I bet it's just a pose. Verb (2) utterly posed by the barrage of questions
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Kawakami posed a trade package that could pique the Bengals interest with several tiers that only sweeten the deal for Cincinnati provided Hendrickson hits certain thresholds. Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025 In all, more than 50 questions were posed by The Athletic subscribers, which might have taken me until retirement to answer with the deserved depth. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
Imagine a 30-year-old parent speaking with a 60-year-old grandparent about the trials and tribulations of raising a child in an age of social media chaos, Jarrott poses, or a 20-year-old gleaning lessons about the job market from a 40-year-old. Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 25 Sep. 2025 The others are striking poses on the car's roof. Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pose

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French poser, from Vulgar Latin *pausare, from Late Latin, to stop, rest, pause, from Latin pausa pause

Verb (2)

short for earlier appose, from Middle English apposen, alteration of opposen to oppose

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pose was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pose. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

pose

1 of 2 verb
posed; posing
1
a
: to hold or cause to hold a special position of the body
posed for fashion photographers
b
: to pretend to be what one is not
pose as a soldier
2
: to offer for consideration
posed a question

pose

2 of 2 noun
1
: a position of the body held for a special purpose
2
: a pretended attitude
my cheerfulness was a pose

More from Merriam-Webster on pose

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