poised

[poizd]

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.

3. teetering or wavering.

   to be poised on the brink of disaster.

4. hovering or suspended in or as in midair.

   a bird poised in flight; a helicopter poised overhead.

5. readied or prepared to do something or for something to happen.

   a singer poised to make sales history with a new album.

poised

/ pɔɪzd /

adjective

1. self-possessed; dignified; exhibiting composure

2. balanced and prepared for action

   a skier poised at the top of the slope

Other Word Forms

• unpoised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of poised¹

First recorded in 1635–45; poise ¹ + -ed ², -ed ³

Example Sentences

His arrest came just as the CHP – Turkey's largest opposition party - was poised to nominate him as their candidate for the presidency.

From BBC

Once nicknamed "The Iron Lady", Simone Gbagbo is now poised to become the strongest female contender for the presidency in Ivory Coast's history.

From BBC

Lachlan's more politically moderate oldest siblings are poised to sell their holdings in Fox and News Corp in the coming months.

From BBC

It is a sunny spring afternoon in Warwickshire and I'm parked up in a nondescript hatchback with my cameraman, poised to meet a drug dealer.

From BBC

The multi-hyphenate artist also provides the song “The Dead Dance” to score what’s poised to be another social media dance trend akin to Ortega’s viral Season 1 moves to the Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• beautiful 
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• exquisite 
• handsome 
• limber 
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• neat 
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• shapely 
• slender 
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• symmetrical 
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