poise

[pɔɪz]

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poised - poise

A person's poise refers to how composed and balanced they seem, like when someone confidently walks into a room.

When we talk about someone having good poise, we usually mean that they carry themselves with confidence and calmness. It's not just about their physical posture, but also the way they interact with others. They might have poise when giving a speech or meeting new people. Poise can be seen in how someone handles difficult situations - staying relaxed and composed under pressure. You might notice it in someone who is being interviewed on TV or playing a sport, doing well under intense scrutiny.

How common is "poise"?

Word poise is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

A state of balance, equilibrium or stability.
Composure; freedom from embarrassment or affectation.
Mien; bearing or deportment of the head or body.
A condition of hovering, or being suspended.
A CGS unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimetre.
Weight; an amount of weight, the amount something weighs.
The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
That which causes a balance; a counterweight.

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verb

To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.
To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
To be of a given weight; to weigh.
To add weight to, to weigh down.
To hold (something) with or against something else in equilibrium; to balance, counterpose.
To hold (something) in equilibrium, to hold balanced and ready; to carry (something) ready to be used.
Example: I poised the crowbar in my hand, and waited.
To keep (something) in equilibrium; to hold suspended or balanced.
Example: The rock was poised precariously on the edge of the cliff.
To ascertain, as if by balancing; to weigh.

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Real examples of "poised" in context

We simulated if you can really reach anyone in 6 steps

Entertainment

There's something about the world that makes it prone to those upheavals, meaning it's always kind of poised on an edge of instability.

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