become poised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "become poised" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is gaining composure, confidence, or grace in a particular situation. Example: "After months of practice, she began to become poised during her public speaking engagements."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

During the 1960s, Rothko's paintings become poised between the materiality of their surfaces and forms, and the emergence of an image, even if it is an image of nothingness, or an image denied: a blank black screen, or a simple near-horizontal division which we unavoidably see as a horizon, between grey and brown, or black and grey.

The Guardian - Arts

Mountains will be reduced to hills, and hills to level ground as all children become poised for life choices that can compete with their imaginations.

Huffington Post

It is established that enhancer elements acquire H3K4me1 and H3K27ac coincident with their developmental activation at this point, while others become poised and enriched for H3K27me3 (Buecker et al., 2014; Factor et al., 2014).

eLife

Stem cells towards the crypt base found preferentially adjacent to Delta-expressing Paneth cells, express Notch receptor [ 13,14], and are maintained in an undifferentiated state by constant Notch signalling and suppression of Atoh1 [ 7,9,15,16], As migrating cells lose contact with Paneth cells and the high Notch signalling they confer, they become poised between secretory and non-secretory fate.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Breakthroughs in genetics have often raised complex ethical and legal questions, which loom ever larger as genetic testing is becoming more commonplace, affordable, and comprehensive, and genetic editing becomes poised to be a consumer technology.

Harvard University

As a consequence, cells became poised and more susceptible to sense and use other electron acceptors that were encountered.

Nature

The move signals a possible shift in care of late-stage breast cancer, as a new class of drugs becomes poised to challenge tamoxifen.

The New York Times

Arizona became poised to take the lead after Gary Brightwell exploded past the defense, tearing down the middle of the field for a 72-yard rush.

Los Angeles Times

As described above, the INK4-ARF locus is also transcriptionally silenced in undifferentiated hESCs and becomes poised for expression following differentiation (Sherr, 2012).

eLife

James became more poised, a savvier teammate, and a far better player after joining the Heat.

The New Yorker

Depicted in angry black charcoal, her punning screws became weapons poised for rape and murder.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "become poised" to describe a gradual process of gaining confidence, balance, or readiness. For example, "After practicing meditation, she began to become poised in stressful situations."

Common error

Avoid using "become poised" to describe an instantaneous change. The phrase implies a process of development, not an immediate shift. Instead of saying "He suddenly became poised", consider "He suddenly appeared poised" or "He gained his composure instantly."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become poised" functions as a verb phrase indicating a progressive action of achieving readiness, balance, or composure. It emphasizes the transition from a less stable state to one of greater equilibrium. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "become poised" signifies a transition into a state of readiness, balance, or composure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears across news media, scientific literature, and academic writing. Usage suggests a neutral to formal register, suited for expressing gradual development with a touch of sophistication. Alternatives like "gain composure" or "develop readiness" offer similar meanings, but the unique characteristic of "become poised" lies in its implication of a refined equilibrium achieved over time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gain composure

Focuses on the act of calming oneself and regaining control.

develop readiness

Emphasizes the process of preparing for a specific event or situation.

grow self-assured

Highlights the increase in confidence and certainty in one's abilities.

find equilibrium

Suggests the achievement of a state of balance and stability.

reach a state of readiness

More formal way to indicate preparation.

evolve into equilibrium

Focuses on the progressive development towards a balanced state.

mature into a state of readiness

Highlights the development of preparedness through maturity.

transform into composure

Emphasizes a complete change leading to calmness.

progress to a balanced state

Stresses the advancement toward stability and harmony.

transition into self-possession

Indicates a shift towards having control over one's emotions and actions.

FAQs

How can I use "become poised" in a sentence?

Use "become poised" to describe a gradual process of gaining balance, readiness, or composure. For example, "The company "becomes poised" for expansion after securing new funding."

What are some alternatives to "become poised"?

Some alternatives include "gain composure", "develop readiness", or "grow self-assured", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "become poised" or "be poised"?

"Become poised" indicates a process of reaching a state of readiness or balance, while "be poised" suggests that the state has already been achieved. Choose the phrase that best reflects the temporal aspect of the situation.

What is the difference between "become poised" and "appear poised"?

"Become poised" implies an actual, internal change leading to balance or readiness. "Appear poised" suggests an outward presentation of composure, whether or not the person actually feels it.