to assume a particular attitude or stance, especially with the hope of impressing others.
He likes to pose as an authority on literature.
to present oneself insincerely.
He seems to be posing in all his behavior.
to assume or hold a physical attitude, as for an artistic purpose.
to pose for a painter.
to place in a suitable position or attitude for a picture, tableau, or the like.
to pose a group for a photograph.
to assert, state, or put forward.
That poses a difficult problem.
to put or place.
a bodily attitude or posture.
Her pose had a note of defiance in it.
a mental attitude or posture.
a pose cultivated by the upper classes.
the act or period of posing, as for a picture.
a position or attitude assumed in posing, or exhibited by a figure in a picture, sculptural work, tableau, or the like.
a moment in which a dancer remains motionless, usually in an assumed posture.
a studied attitude; affectation.
His liberalism is merely a pose.
Archaic. to perplex or baffle, as by a difficult question or problem.
Obsolete. to examine by putting questions.
to assume or cause to assume a physical attitude, as for a photograph or painting
to pretend to be or present oneself (as something one is not)
(intr) to affect an attitude or play a part in order to impress others
(tr) to put forward, ask, or assert
to pose a question
a physical attitude, esp one deliberately adopted for or represented by an artist or photographer
a mode of behaviour that is adopted for effect
rare to puzzle or baffle
archaic to question closely
What is the basic definition of pose? Pose means to position your body in a particular way for a painting, picture, or similar situation. Pose also means the particular positioning you assume as part of posing. To pose also means to state or assert something. Pose has several other senses as a verb and a noun. When people pose, they arrange their body and face in a certain position for some reason. For example, people often pose for pictures by making a peace sign with their hand or blowing a kiss to the camera. Before cameras were invented, politicians and other important people would pose for portraits, which often involved remaining completely still for hours at a time. A person who poses is called a poser.
See position.
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb posen, from Middle French poser, from Late Latin pausāre “to stop, cease, rest,” derivative of Latin pausa “stop, cessation” ( see pause); French poser has taken over the basic sense of Latin pōnere “to put, place” and represents it in French borrowings of its prefixed derivatives ( see compose, depose, etc.)
First recorded in 1520–30; shortening of obsolete appose, variant of oppose, used in sense of Latin appōnere “to put to”
First recorded in 1925–30; from French: “poised,” past participle of poser “to pose”; see pose 1
To pose is to assume a particular stance. Like a runway model strutting to the end of the catwalk, posing with her hands on her hips, and then gracefully walking back. The original meaning of pose from the 14th century is "to put in a certain position." The sense of pose as "to assume a certain attitude" emerged in the 1850’s. When a person poses, he presents himself in a particular way, often with the hope of impressing others. But if you're just posing objects, then the word loses the negative connotation.
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Pose a blind test to readers of modern fiction, featuring a new novel that combines the themes of tattoos and wrestling, and you’re likely to get a fast response.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025
All's Fair reunites the star with American Horror Story showrunner Ryan Murphy, who is also behind hit series such as Glee and Pose.
From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025
Strike a Pose Studio 54 Ball: Strike A Pose and Seattle Pride are joining forces to bring the community a Pride ball like never before.
From Seattle Times • May 31, 2024
Police raided the club, called Pose, in early March following a request from the local prosecutor.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2024
"Come on, Kendra. Pose in front of the Mr. Drippy truck so I can take your picture."
From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene
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.
