pose

[ pohz ]

/ poʊz /

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See synonyms for: pose / posed / poses / posing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), posed, pos·ing.

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.

verb (used with object), posed, pos·ing.

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.

noun

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR pose

3 sit, model.

See synonyms for pose on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of pose

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 origin at 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.), probably reinforced by the accidental resemblance of poser to positum, past participle of pōnere; noun derivative of the verb

synonym study for pose

7. See position.

OTHER WORDS FROM pose

pos·a·ble, adjective

Other definitions for pose (2 of 3)

pose²

[ pohz ]

/ poʊz /

verb (used with object), posed, pos·ing.

to perplex or baffle, as by a difficult question or problem.

Obsolete. to examine by putting questions.

Origin of pose

First recorded in 1520–30; shortening of obsolete appose, variant of oppose, used in sense of Latin appōnere “to put to”

Other definitions for pose (3 of 3)

posé

[ poh-zey; French paw-zey ]

/ poʊˈzeɪ; French pɔˈzeɪ /

noun, plural po·sés

[poh-zeyz; French paw-zey]. /poʊˈzeɪz; French pɔˈzeɪ/. Ballet.

a movement in which the dancer steps, in any desired position, from one foot to the other with a straight knee onto the flat foot, demi-pointe, or pointe.

Origin of posé

1925–30; <French: poised, past participle of poser to pose; see pose¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pose in a sentence

But, storing and distributing a vaccine — especially the potential Pfizer vaccine, which must be frozen until use at -70°C, around the temperature of dry ice — poses a significant challenge.
The secret weapon for distributing a potential covid-19 vaccine|Joanna Radin|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Heavy rain and storms during any Masters round this year could pose a significant challenge for officials in their attempt to finish the tournament by Sunday afternoon.
Masters forecast looking wet early, which could pose problems later in the weekend|Matt Bonesteel|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
Science News spoke with Petrilli about what’s behind the decrease in the mortality rate and the threat posed by rising cases.
COVID-19’s death rate in the U.S. could spike as new cases soar|Aimee Cunningham|November 3, 2020|Science News
This might be a minor issue in many cases — similar products with similar pricing — but it posed a problem in Lund’s case.
Social Shorts: TikTok teams with Shopify, Commerce ads dominate Facebook, LinkedIn users top 722 million|Ginny Marvin|November 2, 2020|Search Engine Land

Part of the significance of the 2020 US election as a global cultural moment is its dramatisation of this tipping point, posed between the insurgent forces of nationalism and the residual forces of liberalism.
As The World Watches US Election, The Appeal Of America Is Diminished|LGBTQ-Editor|November 2, 2020|No Straight News
Making all posable speed to Sandy Point, making about 15 knots ever since we started this morning.
The Voyage of the Oregon from San Francisco to Santiago in 1898|R. Cross
On the 3rd the Spanish fleet came out of the Harbor to fight and get a way if posable.
The Voyage of the Oregon from San Francisco to Santiago in 1898|R. Cross
All the people still full of friendship to me; but I keept myself still to myself as much as posable, without giving an ofence.
The Autobiography of a Cornish Smuggler|Harry Carter
My wife is name lucy an morris my child is name lot, if you please dear sir answer me as soon as you can posable.
The Underground Railroad|William Still

British Dictionary definitions for pose (1 of 2)

pose¹

/ (pəʊz) /

verb

to assume or cause to assume a physical attitude, as for a photograph or painting

(intr often foll by as) 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 assertto pose a question

noun

a physical attitude, esp one deliberately adopted for or represented by an artist or photographer

a mode of behaviour that is adopted for effect

Word Origin for pose

C14: from Old French poser to set in place, from Late Latin pausāre to cease, put down (influenced by Latin pōnere to place)

British Dictionary definitions for pose (2 of 2)

pose²

/ (pəʊz) /

verb (tr)

rare to puzzle or baffle

archaic to question closely

Word Origin for pose

C16: from obsolete appose, from Latin appōnere to put to, set against; see oppose

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

pose

OTHER WORDS FOR pose

Origin of pose

synonym study for pose

OTHER WORDS FROM pose

Other definitions for pose (2 of 3)

Origin of pose

Other definitions for pose (3 of 3)

Origin of posé

Words related to pose

How to use pose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pose (1 of 2)

Word Origin for pose

British Dictionary definitions for pose (2 of 2)

Word Origin for pose