pose

1 of 3

verb (1)

posed; posing

transitive verb

1
a
: to set forth or offer for attention or consideration
let me pose a question
b
: to come to attention as : present
smoking poses a health risk
2
a
: to put or set in place
b
: to place (someone, such as a model) in a studied attitude

intransitive verb

1
: to assume a posture or attitude usually for artistic purposes
2
: to affect an attitude or character usually to deceive or impress
posed as a doctor to gain access to the ward

pose

2 of 3

noun

1
: a sustained posture
especially : one assumed for artistic effect
2
: an attitude, role, or characteristic assumed for effect

pose

3 of 3

verb (2)

posed; posing
Choose the Right Synonym for pose

pose, air, airs, affectation, mannerism mean an adopted way of speaking or behaving.

pose implies an attitude deliberately assumed in order to impress others.

her shyness was just a pose

air may suggest natural acquirement through environment or way of life.

a traveler's sophisticated air

airs always implies artificiality and pretentiousness.

snobbish airs

affectation applies to a trick of speech or behavior that strikes the observer as insincere.

the posh accent is an affectation

mannerism applies to an acquired eccentricity that has become a habit.

gesturing with a cigarette was her most noticeable mannerism

Examples of pose in a Sentence

Verb (1) posed an interesting question for the visiting astronomer Noun The photographs show the models in both clothed and nude poses. Hold that pose. It will make a great photograph. His disapproval of the war looks good to voters, but I bet it's just a pose. Verb (2) utterly posed by the barrage of questions
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
After signing autographs and posing for photos at O’Hare, Blagojevich landed in Denver and then hopped into a black SUV with two of his attorneys to report to the prison — with a camera-toting helicopter tracking his movement and the image streamed live on TV websites. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025 Habitat disturbances, including tourism, fertilizer collection, and limestone mining, pose significant threats to its survival, which is why it is listed as ‘near threatened‘ on International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
The King and Queen appeared to be amazed by performers Mr H and Igor, who struck a gravity-defying pose before their picture. Janine Henni, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025 The Pilates method includes a continuous flow of exercises, and many of these poses are designed to build flexibility. Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pose

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French poser, from Vulgar Latin *pausare, from Late Latin, to stop, rest, pause, from Latin pausa pause

Verb (2)

short for earlier appose, from Middle English apposen, alteration of opposen to oppose

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pose was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pose. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

pose

1 of 2 verb
posed; posing
1
a
: to hold or cause to hold a special position of the body
posed for fashion photographers
b
: to pretend to be what one is not
pose as a soldier
2
: to offer for consideration
posed a question

pose

2 of 2 noun
1
: a position of the body held for a special purpose
2
: a pretended attitude
my cheerfulness was a pose

More from Merriam-Webster on pose

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