poised

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/pɔɪzd/
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Calm and self-assured, physically balanced or held in position, or ready for something expected to happen soon.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • The talks were poised to collapse by midnight.
  • The young actor looked remarkably poised on stage.
  • She is poised to become the next team leader.
  • He was poised to accept the offer.
  • The dancer stood poised on one foot.

Similar words

primed
steady
collected
suspended
self-assured
hovering
balanced
held
confident
steady

Meanings

Calm and self-assured

adjective
everyday
neutral
Calm, confident, and controlled in manner, especially when attention or pressure is high.

Usage

Use poised for a person whose calm confidence shows in posture, speech, or behavior.

Examples

  • Even under pressure, she stayed poised.
  • His poised manner reassured the nervous team.
  • The presenter sounded poised throughout the debate.
  • She gave a poised answer after the difficult question.
  • The young actor looked remarkably poised on stage.
  • A poised smile hid his frustration.

Common mistakes

The adjective is often confused with the verb poise, and readiness examples are sometimes mistaken for composure.
IncorrectCorrect
She is poising during the interview. She is poised during the interview.
He looked poisedly at the crowd. He looked composed in front of the crowd.
She was poised to answer the question. She was ready to answer the question.

Similar words

composed
self-assured
confident
collected
calm
steady

Balanced or held in position

adjective
physical
neutral
Balanced, suspended, or held ready in a particular position, often just before movement.

Usage

Use poised for a body, object, hand, or tool that is balanced or held in place before it moves.

Examples

  • She held the pen poised above the contract.
  • The bird hung poised in the wind.
  • The dancer stood poised on one foot.
  • A cup sat poised on the edge of the tray.
  • The diver waited poised at the end of the board.
  • The statue seemed poised between motion and stillness.

Common mistakes

The past participle form is sometimes replaced with poising, even when no ongoing action is meant.
IncorrectCorrect
The pencil was poising over the paper. The pencil was poised over the paper.
The vase was poised in the edge of the shelf. The vase was poised on the edge of the shelf.
The bird was poised by the air. The bird was poised in the air.

Similar words

balanced
steady
suspended
hovering
held
positioned

Ready or about to happen

adjective
everyday
neutral
Ready for an action, change, or event that is expected to happen soon.

Usage

Use poised with to before a verb and for before a noun, as in poised to grow or poised for success.

Examples

  • The company is poised for rapid growth.
  • She is poised to become the next team leader.
  • The talks were poised to collapse by midnight.
  • The rocket stood poised for launch.
  • The market looks poised for a recovery.
  • He was poised to accept the offer.

Common mistakes

The preposition after poised is often wrong, especially in poised to and poised for patterns.
IncorrectCorrect
The company is poising for growth. The company is poised for growth.
The team is poised to the final. The team is poised for the final.
The talks are poised breaking down. The talks are poised to break down.

Similar words

ready
prepared
set
primed
about to
on the brink

Usage

Check the pattern after poised: a composed person is simply poised, an object may be poised on or over something, and a future event is poised to happen or poised for a result.

Common mistakes

Poising is usually the wrong form when the meaning is calm, balanced, or ready, and poised to needs a verb while poised for needs a noun.

Etymology

From poise plus -ed. Poise comes through Old French from words for weight and balance, ultimately tied to Latin pendere, to hang or weigh.

FAQ

What does poised mean?

Poised can mean calm and self-assured, balanced in position, or ready for something expected to happen soon.

What does poised to mean?

Poised to means ready or likely to do something soon, as in poised to win.

What does poised for mean?

Poised for means ready for a result or event, as in poised for growth.

Can poised describe an object?

Yes. An object can be poised when it is balanced, suspended, or held in position.

Is poised a verb?

Poised can be a past form of poise, but this entry covers its adjective uses.

What is a common mistake with poised?

Poising is often used where the adjective poised is needed.

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