poised

1 of 2

adjective

ˈpȯizd How to pronounce poised (audio)
Synonyms of poised
: having poise:
a
: marked by balance or equilibrium
b
: marked by easy composure of manner or bearing

poised

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of poise entry 1

Examples of poised in a Sentence

Adjective The actors were poised on the stage, ready for the curtain to come up. She held the pencil poised over the paper. The company is poised for success. She seemed poised to take on the leadership of the country. He is now poised to become the next big star in country music. a city poised between the mountains and the sea a group of people poised between hope and fear
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
After almost mishandling the handoff to Breece Hall on his second snap, Klubnik looked poised and comfortable. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026 The designer’s looks blend vintage romance and modern simplicity to create poised looks with a fun, feminine flair. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 8 June 2026 Growing up a ballet dancer, Geier is very poised, mindful, and demure. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026 So my oldest, Richard, is super poised and has always sort of been the rock for our family. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for poised

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1626, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poised was in 1626

Phrases Containing poised

Rhymes for poised

See All Rhymes for poised

Browse Nearby Words

poise
poised
poiser
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Cite this Entry

“Poised.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poised. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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