poised

[poizd]

adjective

1. (of a person) composed, dignified, and self-assured.

2. being in balance or equilibrium.

   a ball poised on the nose of a seal.

3. teetering or wavering.

   to be poised on the brink of disaster.

4. hovering or suspended in or as in midair.

   a bird poised in flight; a helicopter poised overhead.

5. readied or prepared to do something or for something to happen.

   a singer poised to make sales history with a new album.

poised

/ pɔɪzd /

adjective

1. self-possessed; dignified; exhibiting composure

2. balanced and prepared for action

   a skier poised at the top of the slope

Other Word Forms

• unpoised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of poised¹

First recorded in 1635–45; poise ¹ + -ed ², -ed ³

Example Sentences

Firms that own the underlying numbers can rack up hefty consulting fees—and are poised to cash in further if retail dollars flood in.

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In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces are advancing, and now appear poised to take two large cities.

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Spotting these pockets of firmness now can help identify which tech stocks are poised to regain momentum when the market finally catches its breath.

Read more on Barron's

Spotting these pockets of firmness now can help identify which tech stocks are poised to regain momentum when the market finally catches its breath.

Read more on Barron's

The chip maker is still poised to benefit from the largest product cycle in its history, the 72 GPU rack servers, called NVL72.

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Related Words

• balletic www.thesaurus.com
• beautiful 
• decorative 
• delicate 
• elegant 
• exquisite 
• handsome 
• limber 
• lithe 
• neat 
• nimble 
• refined 
• rhythmic 
• shapely 
• slender 
• smooth 
• supple 
• symmetrical 
• tasteful