poised
Americanadjective
-
(of a person) composed, dignified, and self-assured.
-
being in balance or equilibrium.
a ball poised on the nose of a seal.
-
teetering or wavering.
to be poised on the brink of disaster.
-
hovering or suspended in or as in midair.
a bird poised in flight; a helicopter poised overhead.
-
readied or prepared to do something or for something to happen.
a singer poised to make sales history with a new album.
adjective
-
self-possessed; dignified; exhibiting composure
-
balanced and prepared for action
a skier poised at the top of the slope
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of poised
Explanation
If you're poised you're self-possessed and in full control of your faculties. You're balanced, grounded, and ready for action. A poised person exhibits composure and self-assuredness, which comes in handy, for instance, during a job interview, giving a public talk or debate, or playing sports. Watching the Olympics, you may wonder how gymnasts remain so poised when competing on the balance beam, considered the sport's most mentally and physically challenging event. Poised also means ready or on the verge: You can be poised for a leadership position, poised for battle, or poised to become music's next pop star.
Vocabulary lists containing poised
The Giver
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Of Mice and Men"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Poised and polished, with a sharp pantsuit and practiced smile, Fujimori looks like someone raised for politics.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
Appeared in the January 16, 2026, print edition as 'Biotech Venture-Capital Deals Poised to Recover in ’26'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026
Poised with the needle, Dr Hussain warns: "You will feel a short, sharp scratch…. there we go, over in seconds."
From BBC • Aug. 23, 2025
Poised between true crime and pulp noir, this gritty tale, translated by Robin Pickering-Iazzi, reads like a nightmare version of Elena Ferrante’s popular Neapolitan coming-of-age novels.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 8, 2023
Poised to run but unsure of us, unfamiliar with humans.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
