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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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Starship is necessary to achieve many of SpaceX’s goals, and most analysts covering the company warn that potential delays with the program pose a risk to their ambitious forecasts.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
However, the simulations suggest that they could not hold the pose as comfortably or for as long.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
Under the DSA, the world's most popular digital platforms including social media networks and online retailers must evaluate what risks they pose and take measures to tackle the dangers.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
Imported foods with complex supply chains pose more of a risk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
I began to pose a hypothetical question, which I thought expressed insight into Farmer’s itinerant, nomadic life.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
No social posé has yet been attained; and each is too much absorbed in making good his general claims to consideration, to have leisure for the calmer enjoyments that might be snatched during the contest.
From The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, August, 1851 by Various
If it be a question of mere pabulum, it is altogether mal posé.
From Life: Its True Genesis by Wright, R. W.
He says Philippe, the coiffeur, has never left him, that it won't be his fault if my diadem is not perfectly posé, and that he plied him with beer all along the route.
From Letters of a Diplomat's Wife 1883-1900 by Waddington, Mary King
We have heard him say: "No, I will not claim the hat in that photograph, though I made it, because it is mal posé."
From Woman as Decoration by Burbank, Emily
Although not quite a situation of being separated at birth, this Asa still poses a similar challenge for Yuru.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
Meng Jiaxuan, 20, dolled up in her traditional outfit at Shichahai, said she had even researched poses for her photoshoot on Xiaohongshu.
From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026
Burnham being a relative unknown in the US poses both risk and opportunity for him once he moves into 10 Downing Street.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
NEW YORK—New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said oil prices should eventually retreat and that inflation poses the larger risk to the Fed’s dual mandate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Hilda takes her sister’s hand and poses before I even take my camera out.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
Twelve previous movies gave him the confidence that his team could solve the myriad challenges posed by his 13th, the biggest production of his career.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
In La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, many balked at the idea that the eight men killed posed a threat to the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
In September 2024, a federal judge rejected Combs’ request for bail, agreeing with prosecutors that he posed too great a risk to be released while awaiting trial.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Easwar pointed to the challenges posed by mass events such as the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage, where millions of devotees gather and large volumes of offerings are collected.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
Two more statues posed on either side of the gate, and they made my neck itch—I felt like they were watching me trespass.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
He worked the room - and it was a very big room - with great patience, hugging and chatting, joking, posing for pictures, trying out a few of the sports events.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
One of North Korea's best-known spies was Jeong Su-il, who entered South Korea in 1984 posing as Muhammed Kansu, a Filipino-Lebanese academic.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
He is being held under the Unlawful Combatants Law, which authorises the military to detain people from Gaza suspected of posing a security risk for an unspecified period without charge.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
The temperatures were so hot in France that the lack of air conditioning in many parts of hospitals is posing a health risk.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
And it depended almost entirely on the geographic and demographic location of the person posing the question.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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.
