poised
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- ready, all set, prepared, standing by, waiting
- composed, calm, collected, dignified, self-confident, self-possessed, together (informal)

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

poised /pɔɪzd/ adjective
[Sense 1-3: Date: 1600-1700; Origin: poise 'to weigh, balance' (14-21 centuries), from Old French peser, from Latin pensare]
[Sense 4: Date: 1900-2000; Origin: ⇒ poise]

1. [not before noun] not moving, but ready to move or do something at any moment
poised for
She waited by the door like a small animal poised for flight.
poised on
His finger was poised on the camera’s shutter release.
poised to do something
He stood on the edge of the roof, poised to jump.

2. [not before noun] completely ready to do something or for something to happen, when it is likely to happen soon
poised to do something
Spain was poised to become the dominant power in Europe.
poised on the brink/edge of something
The economy is poised on the edge of collapse.

3. poised between something and something to be in a position or situation in which two things have an equally strong influence:
The world stood poised between peace and war.

4. behaving in a calm confident way, and able to control your feelings and reactions:
Abigail walked to the microphone, poised and confident.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

poised
adj.
VERBS appear, be, look, seem, stand She stood poised for a moment.
remain
ADV. delicately, finely | perfectly His manner was perfectly poised between gravity and teasing.
PREP. above/over Peter hesitated, his hand poised above the telephone.
between, for They hovered by the door, poised for flight.
PHRASES poised on the brink/edge/threshold of sth The two countries were poised on the brink of war.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲