Proper Pronunciation Guide

poise

[pɔ͜iz]

Tips:

Pronounce the letters “oi” as the diphthong
/ɔ͜i/—like the vowel in the words “oil” and “avoid”—and not as
/o͜u/ (as in “pose”).
Pronounce the letter “s” as the voiced consonant
/z/.

Practice Sentences:

	The models at the fashion show exhibited great poise.
	The troops were poised to make their entry into the city.

Definitions:

(mass noun) A state or quality of being composed, self-confident, balanced, focused, calm, and steady.
(verb) To put something into a balanced, supported, and raised position so that it is ready to strike or be used or fired. It is generally used in the passive voice (as in the second practice sentence above), and the past participle of the verb (poised) is often used as an adjective (the poised missiles).