If someone has poise, they are calm, dignified, and self-controlled.
What amazed him even more than her appearance was her poise.
It took a moment for Mark to recover his poise.
Synonyms: composure, cool [slang], presence, assurance More Synonyms of poise
2. uncountable noun
Poise is a graceful, very controlled way of standing and moving.
Ballet classes are important for poise and grace.
Even when he moved he did so without poise.
Synonyms: grace, balance, equilibrium, elegance More Synonyms of poise
More Synonyms of poise
poise in British English1
(pɔɪz)
noun
1.
composure or dignity of manner
2.
physical balance or assurance in movement or bearing
3.
the state of being balanced or stable; equilibrium; stability
4.
the position of hovering
5.
suspense or indecision
verb
6.
to be or cause to be balanced or suspended
7. (transitive)
to hold, as in readiness
to poise a lance
8. (transitive) a rare word for weigh1
Word origin
C16: from Old French pois weight, from Latin pēnsum, from pendere to weigh
poise in British English2
(pwɑːz, pɔɪz)
noun
the cgs unit of viscosity; the viscosity of a fluid in which a tangential force of 1 dyne per square centimetre maintains a difference in velocity of 1 centimetre per second between two parallel planes 1 centimetre apart. It is equivalent to 0.1 newton second per square metre
Symbol: P
Word origin
C20: named after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille (1799–1869), French physician
poise in American English1
(pɔɪz)
noun
1.
balance; stability
2.
ease and dignity of manner; self-assurance; composure
3.
the condition of being calm or serene
4.
carriage; bearing, as of the body or head
5. Rare
a.
a suspension of activity in a condition of balance
b.
suspense; irresolution; indecision
verb transitiveWord forms: poised or ˈpoising
6.
to balance; keep steady
7.
to suspend
usually passive or reflexive
8. Rare
to weigh
verb intransitive
9.
to be suspended or balanced
10.
to hover
SIMILAR WORDS: tact
Word origin
ME pois, weight < OFr < VL *pesum < L pensum, something weighed < pendere, to weigh: see pendant
poise in American English2
(pɔɪz)
noun
the basic unit of viscosity of a fluid in the CGS system, equal to the force measured in dynes per square centimeter needed to maintain a difference in velocity of one centimeter per second between two parallelplanes of a fluid separated by one centimeter (0.1 pascal second)
abbrev. P
Word origin
Fr, after J. L. M. Poiseuille (1799-1869), Fr anatomist
poise in American English1
(pɔiz)
Word forms: verbpoised, poising
noun
1.
a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equal distribution of weight; equipoise
2.
a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession
to show poise in company
3.
steadiness; stability
intellectual poise
4.
suspense or wavering, as between rest and motion or two phases of motion
the poise of the tides
5.
the way of being poised, held, or carried
6.
the state or position of hovering
the poise of a bird in the air
transitive verb
7.
to adjust, hold, or carry in equilibrium; balance evenly
8.
to hold supported or raised, as in position for casting, using, etc
to poise a spear
9.
to hold or carry in a particular manner
She walked, carefully poising a water jug on her head
10. obsolete
to weigh
intransitive verb
11.
to rest in equilibrium; be balanced
12.
to hover, as a bird in the air
Word origin
[1350–1400; (n.) ME pois(e) weight ‹ OF (F poids) ‹ LL pēnsum, n. use of neut. ptp. of L pendere to weigh; (v.) ME poisen to weigh ‹ OF poiser, var., based on tonic s., of peser ‹ L pēnsāre, freq. of pendere]
poise in American English2
(pwɑːz)
noun
Physics
a centimeter-gram-second unit of viscosity, equal to the viscosity of a fluid in whicha stress of one dyne per square centimeter is required to maintain a difference of velocity of one centimeter per second between two parallelplanes in the fluid that lie in the direction of flow and are separated by a distance of one centimeter
Symbol: P
Word origin
[1910–15; ‹ F; named after Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille (1799–1869), French physician]
Examples of 'poise' in a sentence
poise
Just who is this driver poised to become world champion in his 11th season of trying?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
City had begun with purpose, and barely let up their poised assurance from those emphatic first few seconds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Drivers are now poised to join the action, which critics have claimed is designed to damage the privatised rail system.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The immovable and irresistible are poised in perfect balance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The painting is perhaps a study in the poised moment.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
He thinks now is an ideal time to be buying because commodity prices are poised to recover.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What strikes one is their poise and grace.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He has a fantastic natural balance and poise.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Four moments of poise and skill had been sufficient.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Although she soon recovers her poise as my legs seize up.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
All racing fans will pray he is soon poised for take off again.
The Sun (2013)
He had poise and balance and played on impulse.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
One is a household name, the other is poised to become one.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
SO management is poised to make some radical changes that will affect you seriously.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I trust that knowing this will help you to understand my dignity and poise.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She did not know the game but waited, outwardly calm and poised as the woman drew the moment out.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
But be aware that insurers will not pay out if you knew when you took out the policy that your employer was poised to make redundancies.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Punch Taverns is poised to announce changes to its proposed debt restructuring in an attempt to persuade senior bondholders to drop their opposition.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The US software giant is poised to announce a mass culling this week.
The Sun (2014)
I love her poise, her grace.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Channel 4 chiefs are poised to sign him for a one-off spot this summer.
The Sun (2007)
But now the internet is poised to make a remote Highlands village one of the world's most viewed scenes.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
poise
British English: poise NOUN
If someone has poise, they are calm, dignified, and self-controlled.
What amazed him even more than her appearance was her poise.
American English: poise
Brazilian Portuguese: serenidade
Chinese: 镇定
European Spanish: aplomo
French: calme
German: Selbstsicherheit
Italian: padronanza di sé
Japanese: 落ち着き
Korean: 침착
European Portuguese: serenidade
Latin American Spanish: aplomo
1 (noun)
Definition
mental balance
It took a moment for Mark to recover his poise.
Synonyms
composure
Stopping briefly to regain her composure, she described her ordeal.
cool (slang)
She kept her cool and managed to get herself out of the situation.
presence
Hendrix's stage presence appealed to thousands of teenage rebels.
assurance
He led the orchestra with assurance.
dignity
equilibrium
I paused and took deep breaths to restore my equilibrium.
serenity
a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity
coolness
They praised him for his coolness under pressure.
aplomb
The cast executed the production with professional aplomb.
calmness
She faced her ordeal with admirable calmness.
equanimity
He faced his defeat with equanimity.
presence of mind
Someone had the presence of mind to call for an ambulance.
sang-froid
He behaves throughout with a certain sang-froid.
savoir-faire
a certain savoir-faire that comes from living with the best
self-possession
She found her customary self-possession had deserted her.
2 (noun)
Definition
physical balance
Ballet classes are important for poise.
Synonyms
grace
He moved with the grace of a trained dancer.
balance
a balance of mind
equilibrium
For the economy to be in equilibrium, income must equal expenditure.
elegance
Princess Grace's understated elegance
(verb)
Definition
to be balanced or suspended
Synonyms
position
hold
support
balance
hang
A haze of expensive perfume hangs around her.
suspend
float
Empty things float.
hover
Beautiful butterflies hovered above the wild flowers.
hang suspended
hang in midair
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aplomb
Definition
calm self-possession
The cast executed the production with professional aplomb.
Synonyms
self-possession,
confidence,
stability,
self-confidence,
composure,
poise,
coolness,
calmness,
equanimity,
balance,
self-assurance,
sang-froid,
level-headedness
in the sense of assurance
Definition
feeling of confidence
He led the orchestra with assurance.
Synonyms
confidence,
conviction,
courage,
certainty,
self-confidence,
poise,
assertiveness,
security,
faith,
coolness,
nerve,
aplomb,
boldness,
self-reliance,
firmness,
self-assurance,
certitude,
sureness,
self-possession,
positiveness,
assuredness
in the sense of balance
Definition
stability of mind or body
a balance of mind
Synonyms
composure,
stability,
restraint,
self-control,
poise,
self-discipline,
coolness,
calmness,
equanimity,
self-restraint,
steadiness,
self-possession,
self-mastery,
strength of mind or will
Synonyms of 'poise'
poise
Explore 'poise' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of calmness
She faced her ordeal with admirable calmness.
Synonyms
coolness,
cool (slang),
composure,
poise,
equanimity,
sang-froid,
self-possession,
dispassion,
impassivity,
imperturbability
in the sense of cool
Definition
calmness
She kept her cool and managed to get herself out of the situation.
Synonyms
calmness,
control,
temper,
composure,
self-control,
poise,
self-discipline,
self-possession,
QL
in the sense of coolness
They praised him for his coolness under pressure.
Synonyms
calmness,
control,
composure,
self-control,
self-discipline,
self-possession,
placidity,
level-headedness,
imperturbability,
collectedness,
sedateness,
placidness,
composedness,
dispassionateness
in the sense of elegance
Princess Grace's understated elegance
Synonyms
style,
taste,
beauty,
grace,
dignity,
sophistication,
grandeur,
refinement,
polish,
gentility,
sumptuousness,
courtliness,
gracefulness,
tastefulness,
exquisiteness
in the sense of equanimity
Definition
calmness of mind or temper
He faced his defeat with equanimity.
Synonyms
composure,
peace,
calm,
poise,
serenity,
tranquillity,
coolness,
aplomb,
calmness,
phlegm,
steadiness,
presence of mind,
sang-froid,
self-possession,
placidity,
level-headedness,
imperturbability
in the sense of equilibrium
Definition
a state of mental and emotional balance
I paused and took deep breaths to restore my equilibrium.
Synonyms
composure,
calm,
stability,
poise,
serenity,
coolness,
calmness,
equanimity,
steadiness,
self-possession,
collectedness
in the sense of equilibrium
Definition
a stable condition in which forces cancel one another
For the economy to be in equilibrium, income must equal expenditure.
Synonyms
stability,
balance,
symmetry,
steadiness,
evenness,
equipoise,
counterpoise
in the sense of float
Definition
to rest on the surface of a fluid without sinking
Empty things float.
Synonyms
be buoyant,
stay afloat,
be or lie on the surface,
rest on water,
hang,
hover,
poise,
displace water
in the sense of hang
Definition
to hover
A haze of expensive perfume hangs around her.
Synonyms
hover,
float,
drift,
linger,
remain
in the sense of hover
Definition
(of a bird, insect, or helicopter) to remain suspended in one place in the air
Beautiful butterflies hovered above the wild flowers.
Synonyms
float,
fly,
hang,
drift,
be suspended,
flutter,
poise
Additional synonyms
in the sense of presence
Definition
impressive personal appearance or bearing
Hendrix's stage presence appealed to thousands of teenage rebels.
Synonyms
personality,
bearing,
appearance,
aspect,
air,
ease,
carriage,
aura,
poise,
demeanour,
self-assurance,
mien (literary),
comportment
in the sense of presence of mind
Definition
the ability to stay calm and act sensibly in a crisis
Someone had the presence of mind to call for an ambulance.
Synonyms
level-headedness,
assurance,
composure,
poise,
cool (slang),
wits,
countenance,
coolness,
aplomb,
alertness,
calmness,
equanimity,
self-assurance,
phlegm,
quickness,
sang-froid,
self-possession,
unflappability (informal),
imperturbability,
quick-wittedness,
self-command,
collectedness
in the sense of sang-froid
Definition
composure and calmness in a difficult situation
He behaves throughout with a certain sang-froid.
Synonyms
composure,
poise,
coolness,
aplomb,
cool (slang),
indifference,
calmness,
equanimity,
nonchalance,
phlegm,
self-possession,
unflappability (informal),
imperturbability,
cool-headedness
in the sense of savoir-faire
Definition
the ability to say and do the right thing in any situation
a certain savoir-faire that comes from living with the best
Synonyms
social graces,
diplomacy,
discretion,
accomplishment,
finesse,
poise,
tact,
urbanity,
social know-how (informal)
in the sense of self-possession
She found her customary self-possession had deserted her.