poise
gb/pˈɔɪz/ us/pˈɔɪz/
B2
English
~ 9100
higgadtság, lélekjelenlét, összeszedett, higgadt, egyensúlyban tart, egyensúlyozik, készen áll, küszöbén áll, egyensúly, egyensúlyérzék, poise
NOUN
B2
1
higgadtság
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] shows [poise] under [pressure]
She handled the tough questions with impressive poise.
Lenyűgöző higgadtsággal kezelte a nehéz kérdéseket.
Despite the chaos around him, he kept his poise and spoke clearly.
A körülötte lévő káosz ellenére megőrizte a higgadtságát, és tisztán beszélt.
The young actor showed remarkable poise during the live television interview.
His poise under pressure is one reason the team trusts him as their leader.
Even when criticized, she never loses her poise in public.
Learner examples
The speaker answered every question with poise.
Az előadó minden kérdésre higgadtan válaszolt.
He kept his poise when the plan started to fail.
Megőrizte a higgadtságát, amikor a terv kezdett kudarcba fulladni.
The child read the poem on stage with great poise.
Good leaders need poise in a crisis.
She walked into the meeting with calm poise.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "poise" with "pose." "Poise" is about calm, confident behavior, while "pose" is a position of the body or a way of standing for a photo. Many learners also try to say *"He is a poise"* to describe a person; instead say *"He has poise"* or *"He shows poise."*
Meaning
calm, confident self-control
Collocations
natural poise
|maintain her poise
|lose his poise
|with remarkable poise
|professional poise
|poise under pressure
Synonyms
composure (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and used more broadly for emotional self-control.)
Antonyms
nervousness (Describes a tense, shaky state instead of calm, confident control.)
Themes
emotions
|personality
|social
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A quiet, calm, and confident way of behaving, especially when something is difficult or stressful.
Calm, controlled, and confident behavior, especially in a difficult, stressful, or public situation.
B2
2
összeszedett
B2
higgadt
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is [poised]
She is remarkably poised for someone so young.
Ahhoz képest, hogy ilyen fiatal, feltűnően összeszedett.
The new manager seemed poised and confident during her first presentation.
Az új menedzser az első prezentációján összeszedettnek és magabiztosnak tűnt.
He remained poised while reporters shouted questions at him.
On camera, she appears relaxed, poised, and professional.
Even after the mistake, he tried to look poised in front of the audience.
Learner examples
The host was very poised during the live show.
A műsorvezető nagyon összeszedett volt az élő adásban.
She looks poised when she talks to clients.
Amikor ügyfelekkel beszél, összeszedettnek látszik.
He did not seem nervous; he was calm and poised.
The dancer was graceful and poised on stage.
A good teacher should be poised in front of the class.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"He is very poise"* instead of "poised." Use the adjective form: *"She is poised"* or *"He looks poised."* Use the noun for behavior in general: *"She showed great poise."*
Meaning
calm, confident, and self-possessed
Collocations
a poised young woman
|poised and confident
|elegant and poised
|always looks poised
|calm and poised
|poised manner
Synonyms
composed (Very similar, but "composed" focuses more on emotional control, while "poised" also suggests elegance or social polish.)
Antonyms
flustered (Describes someone who is confused and upset instead of calm and in control.)
Themes
personality
|social
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Calm, confident, and not nervous, especially when many people are watching.
Describing a person who appears calm, confident, and in control of their behavior, especially in public or formal situations.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to poise [something] [somewhere]
He poised the pen above the contract, hesitating before he signed.
A tollat a szerződés fölött tartotta, és habozott, mielőtt aláírta volna.
The cat was poised on the fence, ready to leap into the garden.
A macska ugrásra készen egyensúlyozott a kerítésen.
She stood poised at the starting line, waiting for the gun.
The bird hovered, wings poised in the air for a moment.
With his hand poised over the keyboard, he waited for the signal to begin.
Learner examples
The runner was poised at the line, waiting to start.
A futó rajtra készen állt a vonalnál.
She held the knife poised over the cake.
A kést a torta fölött tartotta, vágásra készen.
The cat was poised on the table, ready to jump.
He sat with his finger poised on the button.
The girl stood poised on the edge of the pool.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "poise" with "pause" because of similar sounds. "Poise" means to hold in a balanced, ready position, while "pause" means to stop for a short time. Also, do not say *"poise up"*; simply use "poise": *"He poised the ball in his hand."*
Meaning
hold in a balanced ready position
Collocations
poise the pen above
|poised to strike
|poised in midair
|poised on the edge
|poised over the water
|poised for a jump
Synonyms
balance ("Balance" is more general; "poise" suggests being ready to move or act from that balanced position.)
Antonyms
drop (Instead of holding something steady and ready, you let it fall and lose control.)
Themes
movement
|sports
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hold something, or your body, in a still and balanced way, ready to move.
To hold something or to keep one’s body in a steady, balanced position, often just before moving or acting.
VERB
C1
4
készen áll
B1
küszöbén áll
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is poised to [verb]
The company is poised to launch its new product line next month.
A vállalat készen áll arra, hogy jövő hónapban piacra dobja új termékcsaládját.
After years of training, she is poised to become one of the best swimmers in the country.
Évekig tartó edzés után készen áll arra, hogy az ország egyik legjobb úszója legyen.
With the new law, the region is poised for major economic change.
The team looks poised to win the championship this season.
Scientists say the volcano is poised to erupt at any moment.
Learner examples
The small startup is poised to grow quickly.
A kis startup gyors növekedés előtt áll.
He is poised to start his new job next week.
Készen áll arra, hogy jövő héten elkezdje az új munkáját.
Our city is poised for big changes.
The singer is poised to become very famous.
The market is poised to improve soon.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"poised for do something"* instead of using an infinitive. Use "poised to + verb": *"poised to grow,"* not *"poised for grow."* Use "poised for + noun" when followed by a thing: *"poised for success."*
Meaning
be ready and likely to act
Collocations
poised to take off
|poised for growth
|poised to win
|poised for success
|poised on the brink of
|market is poised to recover
Synonyms
be set to (Very similar; "be set to" is slightly more informal and common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
be unprepared to (Describes a state of not being ready or in a good position to do something.)
Themes
business
|news
|change
|future
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be ready and in a good position to do something or for something to happen soon.
Used in passive or stative constructions to describe someone or something that is ready and in a favorable position for a particular action or change that is expected soon.
NOUN
C1
5
egyensúly
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] maintains [their] poise
The gymnast moved across the beam with extraordinary poise.
A tornász rendkívüli egyensúlyérzékkel haladt végig a gerendán.
Years of ballet training gave her the poise to hold difficult positions.
A sokévi balettképzés megadta neki azt az egyensúlyérzéket, amellyel nehéz pózokat is ki tudott tartani.
The statue has a sense of poise, as if it could move at any moment.
His lack of poise made the advanced yoga poses difficult for him.
The skater’s poise and control impressed the judges.
Learner examples
The dancer shows great poise on stage.
A táncosnak nagyszerű az egyensúlyérzéke a színpadon.
Good poise helps a gymnast stay on the beam.
A jó egyensúlyérzék segít a tornásznak a gerendán maradni.
Yoga can improve your poise and balance.
The model walked with poise down the runway.
He lost his poise and fell off the bike.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is only about feelings. In this sense, "poise" is mainly about the body’s physical balance and control, often in sports, dance, or performance.
Meaning
physical balance and steadiness
Collocations
athletic poise
|dancer's poise
|perfect poise
|strength and poise
|poise and coordination
|losing his poise
Synonyms
balance ("Balance" is the broader term; "poise" often suggests trained or graceful balance, especially in dance or sport.)
Antonyms
instability (Describes a lack of steady balance, the opposite of physical poise.)
Themes
movement
|sports
|art
|body
|science
Definition
A strong, steady way of standing or moving, without losing balance.
A state of physical balance and stability in the position of a body or object.
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
6
poise
C2
Usage pattern:
[measurement] poise
The viscosity of the liquid was reported as 0.5 poise.
A folyadék viszkozitását 0,5 poise értékben adták meg.
In older textbooks, dynamic viscosity is often given in poise or centipoise.
A régebbi tankönyvekben a dinamikai viszkozitást gyakran poise-ban vagy centipoise-ban adják meg.
The unit "poise" is named after the French scientist Jean Léonard Marie Poiseuille.
Learner examples
Some science books use the unit poise for viscosity.
Egyes természettudományos könyvek a poise mértékegységet használják a viszkozitásra.
Oil can have a higher value in poise than water.
Az olaj poise-ban mért értéke magasabb lehet, mint a vízé.
The chart shows viscosity in poise and centipoise.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this technical sense of "poise" with the common meanings of calmness or balance. In scientific texts about fluids, "poise" usually refers to this measurement unit, not to a person’s behavior.
Meaning
unit of dynamic viscosity
Collocations
measured in poise
|value of one poise
|centipoise and poise
|viscosity in poise
|unit called the poise
|10 poise of viscosity
Synonyms
poiseuille (Another unit used for dynamic viscosity, but in the SI system rather than the cgs system.)
Antonyms
dimensionless (Refers to a quantity with no units at all, the opposite of a specific physical unit like the poise.)
Themes
science
|physics
|chemistry
Definition
A scientific unit used in physics and chemistry to measure how thick a liquid is when it flows.
In the centimeter–gram–second (cgs) system, a unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter.
Grammar
Dictionary form
poise
IPA
GB/pˈɔɪz/
US/pˈɔɪz/
Syllables & stress
poise (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (poise)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: poise
- Plural: poise
Verb
- Base: poise
- 3rd Person Singular: poises
- Present Participle: poising
- Past: poised
Word family
Forms
poises
verb
poising
verb
poised
verb
Negative and opposite forms
unpoised
adjective
Expressions
be poised to do something
1/bˈi pˈɔɪzd tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
be ready and likely to act
To be ready and in a good situation for something to happen or for you to do something soon.
Examples
- The company is poised to expand into new markets this year.
- After months of training, she is poised to break the national record.
poised for success
1/pˈɔɪzd fɚ səksˈɛs/
fixed phrase
in a strong position to succeed
In a good situation where success is very likely soon.
Examples
- With strong early sales, the product seems poised for success.
- The young team is poised for success after several years of rebuilding.
poised on the brink of
1/pˈɔɪzd ˈɔn ðə bɹˈɪŋk əv/
idiom
just about to experience change
Very close to a big event or change, usually important or serious.
Examples
- The country is poised on the brink of a political crisis.
- Experts say the technology is poised on the brink of a major breakthrough.
with poise and grace
1/wˈɪθ pˈɔɪz ˈænd ɡɹˈeɪs/
fixed phrase
in a calm, elegant way
In a calm, confident, and very elegant way, especially when moving or speaking.
Examples
- She accepted the award with poise and grace.
- The dancers moved across the stage with poise and grace.