poised

[ poizd ]
See synonyms for poised on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. teetering or wavering: to be poised on the brink of disaster.

  2. hovering or suspended in or as in midair: a bird poised in flight; a helicopter poised overhead.

  3. readied or prepared to do something or for something to happen: a singer poised to make sales history with a new album.

Origin of poised

1
First recorded in 1635–45; poise1 + -ed2, -ed3

Other words from poised

  • un·poised, adjective

Words Nearby poised

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use poised in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for poised

poised

/ (pɔɪzd) /


adjective
  1. self-possessed; dignified; exhibiting composure

  2. balanced and prepared for action: a skier poised at the top of the slope

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012