pose

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈpōz 

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

transitive verb

: puzzle, baffle

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• advance
• bounce
• offer
• proffer
• propose
• propound
• suggest
• vote

Noun

• act
• airs
• charade
• disguise
• facade
• façade
• front
• guise
• masquerade
• playacting
• pretense
• pretence
• put-on
• semblance
• show

Verb (2)

• addle
• baffle
• bamboozle
• beat
• befog
• befuddle
• bemuse
• bewilder
• buffalo
• confound
• confuse
• discombobulate
• disorient
• flummox
• fox
• fuddle
• get
• gravel
• maze
• muddle
• muddy
• mystify
• perplex
• puzzle
• vex

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

Verb

Visitors pose at the site of Osaka’s 1970 World Expo, now a park. —Hiroko Masuike/the New York Times, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025

Especially in the restaurant’s early weeks, Cooper was regularly in the kitchen, working the grill with vigor, occasionally breaking to pose for selfies. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025

Noun

The statue, depicting the two megastars in an iconic pose from the beloved Yash Raj Films 1995 romantic comedy – which follows two non-resident Indians and their romance across Europe and India – will mark the beginning of the film’s 30th anniversary celebrations. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Apr. 2025

Each rabbit holds a festive springtime flower in a different pose that can be placed together or individually around the home. —Ali Faccenda, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing pose

• corpse pose
• pose as

Rhymes for pose

• blows
• brose
• chose
• cloze
• cose
• crows
• doughs
• doze
• floes
• flows
• foes
• froze

Kids Definition

pose

1 of 2 verb

ˈpōz 

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