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
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.
Nationally, measles cases have nearly eclipsed last year’s total already and the country is poised to hit its highest case level since the late 1980s and early ’90s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Following a constitutional reform that extended the presidential mandate from five to six years, Nicaragua is poised to host general elections in 2027.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
Andy Burnham is poised to become the U.K.’s prime minister on Monday, following Keir Starmer’s resignation from the role.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
The federations behind all the participating World Cup teams were poised earlier this year to become tax-exempt entities, according to an April report from the Guardian.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
She’s so poised in her selfies, like she’s at Who’s Who events, but the pictures she puts up of her friends make them look less than refined.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
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.
