Pronunciation: /pɔɪz/

Definitions of poise

noun graceful and elegant bearing in a person

Example Sentences

A1 She walked with poise and grace.

A2 The dancer performed with poise and confidence.

B1 His poise under pressure impressed his colleagues.

B2 The CEO's poise during the crisis helped calm the employees.

C1 Her poise and composure in difficult situations are admirable.

C2 The diplomat's poise and tact in negotiations were key to reaching a successful agreement.

verb to hold (something) in a balanced and steady position

Example Sentences

A1 She poises herself carefully before walking on the balance beam.

A2 The dancer poises gracefully on one leg during the performance.

B1 He poises himself confidently before giving a speech in front of the audience.

B2 The gymnast poises perfectly before executing a difficult routine.

C1 The CEO poises herself with authority before addressing the board of directors.

C2 The diplomat poises himself skillfully during delicate negotiations with foreign leaders.

Examples of poise in a Sentence

formal She walked with grace and poise, capturing the attention of everyone in the room.

informal Despite the unexpected news, she maintained her poise and kept a calm demeanor.

slang Even under pressure, he managed to keep his poise and handle the situation like a boss.

figurative The dancer moved with such poise and precision, it was like watching poetry in motion.

Grammatical Forms of poise

past tense

poised

plural

poises

comparative

more poised

superlative

most poised

present tense

poise

future tense

will poise

perfect tense

have poised

continuous tense

are poising

singular

poise

positive degree

poise

infinitive

to poise

gerund

poising

participle

poising

Origin and Evolution of poise

First Known Use: 1300 year
Language of Origin: Old French
Story behind the word: The word 'poise' originated from the Old French word 'pois' meaning weight or balance.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'poise' evolved to also mean composure, grace, and self-assurance, reflecting a sense of balance and stability in one's demeanor.